English grammar
British vs American grammar: I've just seen him vs I just saw him
Recognise British and American grammar side by side: I've just seen him vs I just saw him.
From the scene I've just seen him / I just saw him
In short
With just, already and yet, British English uses the present perfect and American English often the past simple. Both are correct.
Your turn
Which one goes with American: just + past simple?
Options: I've already said hello · you just saw him? · I've just seen him
Show answer
American: just + past simple → you just saw him?
How it works
With just, already and yet, British English normally uses the present perfect (I've just seen him, I've already said hello), while American English often uses the past simple (I just saw him, I already said hello).
Good to know
Both are correct: recognise both, and stay consistent in your own speech. For experience (I've seen him before) both sides use the present perfect.
British: just + present perfect I've just seen him
Elena
I've just seen him on the corner.
Le acabo de ver en la esquina.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) on the corner.
Options: You just saw him · I've already said hello · I've just seen him
Show answer
Elena
I've just seen him on the corner.
Le acabo de ver en la esquina.
American: just + past simple you just saw him?
Javi
You just saw him? And how do you know it was him?
¿Lo acaba de ver? ¿Y cómo sabe que era él?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)? And how do you know it was him?
Options: I've just seen him · I've already said hello · You just saw him
Show answer
Javi
You just saw him? And how do you know it was him?
¿Lo acaba de ver? ¿Y cómo sabe que era él?
British: already + present perfect I've already said hello
Elena
Well, I've already said hello and called him by his name.
Pues yo ya le he saludado y le he llamado por su nombre.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Well, (blank) and called him by his name.
Options: You just saw him · I've already said hello · I've just seen him
Show answer
Elena
Well, I've already said hello and called him by his name.
Pues yo ya le he saludado y le he llamado por su nombre.
American: already + past simple I already said hello
Your turn
What goes with I already said hello?
Options: American: just + past simple · American: already + past simple · British: just + present perfect
Show answer
I already said hello → American: already + past simple
both: experience I've seen him before
Elena
Well, I've seen him before. He was in your photos.
Hombre, ya le he visto antes. Salía en tus fotos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Well, (blank). He was in your photos.
Options: You just saw him · I've seen him before · I've just seen him
Show answer
Elena
Well, I've seen him before. He was in your photos.
Hombre, ya le he visto antes. Salía en tus fotos.
Common mistake
Not saw or see here. Doña Elena, British.
I've just seen him on the corner.
Le acabo de ver en la esquina.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| British: just + present perfect | I've just seen him |
|---|---|
| American: just + past simple | you just saw him? |
| British: already + present perfect | I've already said hello |
| American: already + past simple | I already said hello |
| both: experience | I've seen him before |
More lines from the story
- ElenaThat his name wasn't Andrés. That he was the postman.Que no se llamaba Andrés. Que era el cartero.
- NuriaAt school, I learnt it the American way. I say it like you.En el colegio lo aprendí a la americana. Yo lo digo como tú.