Quote Originally Posted by Eugene-p View Post
В общем случае можно об одном и том же событии говорить как в перфекте, так и в неперфекте, вы это прекрасно знаете. Для этого просто нужен подходящий контекст. Так, например, событие "to have a flat tire" в прошлом можно выразить как перфектом (I have had a flat tire), так и обычным Simple Past (I had a flat tire). Оба предложения грамматически корректны, но они в отрыве от контекста, как говорится, don't make much sense. Они нормально впишутся в следующие контексты:

- Daniel, my car doesn't steer properly, what could've happened?
- Check the tires, Monica, you might have gotten a flat tire.
*checking*
- Yes, you were right, the left front one is as flat as a pancake, what am I going to do now?
- Monica have you ever had a flat tire? You are going to replace the wheel yourself or call the roadside assistance.

On the next day:

- Hi Johanna, you wouldn't believe, yesterday on my way home I had a flat tire and called the roadside assistance. I waited for them for nearly three hours and when they finally arrived and fixed it I was totally frozen and I didn't feel like I wanted to go to the party. The battery in my cell died and I couldn't call you. So I'm terribly sorry for I couldn't make it there. Hope you guys had a lot of fun.
Да, примеры замечательные. Но как тогда быть с тем моим примером?
Have you seen Mr. Whitford this morning? - He passed me. (It's from George Meredith, I haven't read personally, though).