"I didn't see him" vs "I haven't seen him"

Question

"I didn't see him" vs "I haven't seen him"

Both "I haven't seen him" and "I didn't see him" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "I haven't seen him" is used when referring to a recent or ongoing situation, indicating that the action of seeing him has not occurred up to the present moment. On the other hand, "I didn't see him" is used when referring to a specific past event, indicating that the action of seeing him did not happen at a particular point in the past.

Last Updated: March 25, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate that the action of seeing him did not happen at a particular point in the past in a specific event.

Examples:

I didn't see him at the party last night.
She didn't see the car coming.
They didn't see the warning signs.
He didn't see the message until later.
We didn't see the movie because it was sold out.

Alternatives:

I did not see him

This phrase is used to indicate that the action of seeing him has not occurred up to the present moment in a recent or ongoing situation.

Examples:

I haven't seen him today.
She hasn't seen the movie yet.
They haven't seen each other in years.
He hasn't seen the new exhibit at the museum.
We haven't seen any progress on the project.

Alternatives:

I have not seen him
I've not seen him

Answer 1

I didn't see him

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

I haven't seen him

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"I didn't see him" vs "I haven't seen him"

I didn't see him

I haven't seen him

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