I've just bought vs. I just bought vs. I bought

Question

I bought an English grammar book 3 weeks ago. Is it correct to use any of the following sentences interchangeably to tell my friend that I bought the book, or is there a difference in meaning between each sentence?

I've just bought a book on English grammar, and it looks pretty good.
I just bought a book on English grammar, and it looks pretty good.
I bought a book on English grammar, and it looks pretty good.

Using just indicates that the book is a recent purchase. Using the perfect with just indicates it even more strongly. Using the simple past without just says nothing about when you bought the book. — John Lawler, Sep 27 '15 at 22:14
This seems to be another example of how people frequently truncate the language at the cost of clarity. I'm not entirely sure but I think the sentence should be said as "I have just now bought a book..." which would indicate that "just now" is when the book was gotten, with "just" being used in its sense of precision or exactness. — Tonepoet, Sep 27 '15 at 22:47
"I just bought a book" can also mean that you didn't buy anything else but the book; "I've just bought a book" usually doesn't mean that. — Steven Littman, Sep 28 '15 at 03:38
also possible duplicate of: 1. Is it correct to say “I found the map” or “I have found the map”? and related 2. “I just ate them” and “I've just eaten them” and 3. “I've just arrived” vs. “I just arrived” — Mari-Lou A, Sep 28 '15 at 07:27
We really have to do something about these questions on Present Perfect vs Simple past — Mari-Lou A, Sep 28 '15 at 07:50

score 6 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 28 '15 at 07:06

1.I've just bought a book on English grammar, and it looks pretty good.

This sentence used a present perfect with "just" which indicates buying a book occurred very recently. It can even mean you bought a book a few minutes ago.

2.I just bought a book on English grammar, and it looks pretty good.

This sentence is very close to No.1 in that you used "just" for the past tense.

The purpose of Both No. 1 and No. 2 is (1) to indicate the timing of buyig the book and (2) the fact that he/she has it now.

3.I bought a book on English grammar, and it looks pretty good.

Reading this sentence, you cannot tell whether the book was bought recently or not. It happened in the past. No. 3 is different from No. 1 and No.2 in that sense.

score -5 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 27 '15 at 22:38

-5

The first line is the correct way to say it if you have recently purchased the book.

The second line is not grammatically correct.

The third line "I bought a book...." also works but doesn't imply a recent purchase.

answered Sep 27 '15 at 22:38

Jaimsy

346

4

The second sentence is fine. – StoneyB on hiatus Sep 27 '15 at 22:43
3

I am not gonna vote you down, but .... hmmphh. – Blessed Geek Sep 28 '15 at 07:45

I've just bought vs. I just bought vs. I bought

2 Answers2