Perfect and simple use.

Pos   Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:12 am GMT
If a speaker has looked for a book on a shelf and the book is not there, can he say both of these to a friend?

"Have you put the book back on the shelf?"

"Did you put the book back on the shelf?"

If he can't use both...why can't he?
Larissa   Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:40 am GMT
"Have you put the book back on the shelf?" I think this one is more used by the British English speakers.

"Did you put the book back on the shelf?" and that one by the American English speakers. Correct me if I'm wrong!
M56   Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:38 pm GMT
I think, in that context, you can't say the first one in either AE or BE.