[Grammar] Forgot vs Have forgotten

[Kjeldebu]

Hi,

This one's been puzzling me for a little while.

I leave home with my kids for school and forget my keys. On the way to school I feel my pockets and say to my son:

No luck, I have forgotten my keys

or

No luck, I forgot my keys at home

Cambridge grammar of English tells me I should use the former, (different time frame,...). But somehow I tend to use the latter.

Anyone?

Thanks

Jonathan

 

[HanibalII]

Hi,

This one's been puzzling me for a little while.

I leave home with my kids for school and forget my keys. On the way to school I feel my pockets and say to my son:

No luck, I have forgotten my keys

or

No luck, I forgot my keys at home

Cambridge grammar of English tells me I should use the former, (different time frame,...). But somehow I tend to use the latter.

Anyone?

Thanks

Jonathan

Hi.

To me, both sound natural. But I would say 'I've forgotten my keys.." Not a large difference, but that's just me.

But while 'I forgot my keys at home' sounds quite natural, I'd hear 'I've forgotten my keys' more frequently. Especially if it's in the morning and you're on the way out the door. Right after leaving the house, I don't think you'd say 'I forgot my keys at home'.

But again, that's just me.

 

[Kjeldebu]

Thanks Haniball,

That makes sense.

J

 

[Rover_KE]

To this BeE speaker, 'I forgot my keys at home' sounds most unnatural.

I'd say 'I've left my keys at home.'

Have you qualified as a teacher yet, HanibalII?

Rover

 

[englishhobby]

And will both variants do in the following context:
What does this word mean? - I forgot (I've forgotten).
?

 

[Kjeldebu]

I'd say 'I've left my keys at home.'

OK, but wat goes through my mind at that point is I really just forgot to pocket them on my way out. So I'm explaining this to the kids.

 

[HanibalII]

To this BeE speaker, 'I forgot my keys at home' sounds most unnatural.

I'd say 'I've left my keys at home.'

Have you qualified as a teacher yet, HanibalII?

Rover

No. I haven't yet, and yes, it is stated every time I post.