Is there any good usage example for “Did I tell you”?

Question

As far as I can tell, rephrasing Wikipedia, Simple Past draws attention to actual occurrence of the past action or event, as opposed to its present consequences. (See Present perfect).

Doesn't asking someone a question usually imply some consequences?

Meeka · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-13T14:57:30.683

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Here is an example. An man and wife are talking and the man says: "Did I tell you about the time I ate ten hamburgers?" The wife sighs and says "Yes honey, you've told me that story a hundred times!" (This sounds better with "Have I told you […]?" instead of "Did I tell you […]?")

or

A man says to his wife "Did I tell you to turn the oven off before we left?" "Did I tell you […]?" is requesting a response.

edited Jun 13 '13 at 14:57

answered Jun 12 '13 at 19:19

Meeka

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But aren't those questions of yours imply consequences? "Did I tell you about the time I ate ten hamburgers?" (If not, I'm gonna tell you that story). "Did I tell you to turn the oven off before we left?" (If not, I'm gonna ask you if you've done it, we can even return to turn it off). – x-yuri Jun 14 '13 at 14:12
I might assume though, that it's not that there is no consequences, but the emphasis is on whether event has occured or not. – x-yuri Jun 14 '13 at 14:16
Also, if "Did I tell you […]?" is requesting a response, what is "Have I told you […]?" then? – x-yuri Jun 14 '13 at 14:17

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 13 '13 at 14:43

I'll give you an example from my own life. My wife and I work near each other and share a car. We have about a half hour ride home at the end of the day and we will have a conversation. Being that my attention is divided, I might not remember if I shared a certain detail of my day, or if I asked a particular question I intended to ask. I would then say "Did I tell you […]?" or "Did I ask you […]?"

Is there any good usage example for “Did I tell you”?

2 Answers2

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