in case they've forgotten

[IlyaTretyakov]

Is it correct if I change 'they've forgotten' to 'they forgot'? Would it mean the same thing?

1. I'll remind them about the meeting in case they've forgotten.
2. I'll remind them about the meeting in case they forgot.

 

[lingobingo]

Yes, you could say either.

Both tenses express the same idea in this case, even though they look at it from different perspectives — when it was first forgotten / whether it is still forgotten now.

 

[IlyaTretyakov]

Yes, you could say either.

Both tenses express the same idea in this case, even though they look at it from different perspectives — when it was first forgotten / whether it is still forgotten now.

Could the second sentence (in case they forgot) also mean that it is still forgotten as the first one?

 

[lingobingo]

< --- > In case they forgot only has one meaning, relating to a possible past action.

The point of it is that if they did in fact forget, then they might not turn up at the meeting (which hasn’t happened yet).

< Off -topic comment removed. Cagey, moderator >

 

[IlyaTretyakov]

I don’t think that question makes much sense, do you?

I do. As far as I know, Americans often use the simple past instead of the present perfect. They can say 'He forgot about it' with the same meaning as 'He's forgotten about it'.

That's why I'm asking that question.
< Off topic comment removed. Cagey, moderator >

 

[RM1(SS)]

Is it correct if I change 'they've forgotten' to 'they forgot'? Would it mean the same thing?

1. I'll remind them about the meeting in case they've forgotten.
2. I'll remind them about the meeting in case they forgot.

Could the second sentence (in case they forgot) also mean that it is still forgotten as the first one?

They have forgotten it -- They don't remember it.
They forgot it -- They don't remember it.

They mean the same thing.

 

[Roxxxannne]

Could the second sentence (in case they forgot) also mean that it is still forgotten as the first one?

I don't understand this question. Do you mean Could the second sentence (in case they forgot) also mean that it is still forgotten, which is what the first question means?