When a friend starts telling you news you already know, the natural reply is I’ve heard that. Here’s why it takes the Present Perfect and how it differs from I heard that.
How to say “I’ve heard that”
The natural translation of «Я це вже чула» is I’ve heard that. The Ukrainian «вже» (already) becomes already, which goes between have and the past participle: I’ve already heard that.
- I’ve heard that.You already know this; nothing new for you.
- I’ve already heard that story twice.Stresses that it is old news.
- Don’t explain it again — I’ve already heard it.Firm but polite: you don’t need to repeat yourself.
English has no gender difference here. «Я це вже чув» and «Я це вже чула» both become I’ve heard that.
Have or has, and the third form
The Present Perfect is built with have / has + third form (the past participle). The auxiliary depends on the subject:
- I, you, we, they + have: I’ve heard, they’ve heard
- he, she, it + has: he’s heard, she’s heard
- The third form of hear is heard (hear – heard – heard). It’s irregular, so learn it as part of the set.
- He’s heard that joke before.’s is a contraction of has.
- We’ve heard that too.Same pattern with we: have.
When to use “I’ve heard that”
The Present Perfect talks about knowledge or experience up to now, not about a specific moment in the past. So I’ve heard that means “I already know this”, and it often sounds a little impatient. Three common uses:
- Turning down advice or news you already know: I’ve heard that before.
- Passing on a rumour: I’ve heard that the café is closed.
- Asking whether someone knows something: Have you heard the news?
Compare the Past Simple: I heard the news this morning. — here the moment you heard it matters. Use the Present Perfect when only the fact that you know something matters. For the difference between the Present Perfect and the Present Continuous, see the post on “He is playing the violin”.
Common mistakes
- I have hear it. → I’ve heard it. (the third form is missing)
- I’ve heard it yesterday. → I heard it yesterday. (the Present Perfect doesn’t go with a finished time like yesterday or last week)
- She have heard that. → She has heard that.
- I heard it already. — a word-for-word copy of «я вже чула»; the standard form is I’ve already heard it.
More useful phrases
- Have you heard the news?Asking whether someone already knows something.
- I’ve never heard of him.I don’t know him at all.
- I’ve heard it all before.Slightly dismissive: I’ve heard it many times.
- I’ve heard good things about it.Someone has told you positive things about it.
Check yourself
Say it in English, then reveal the answer:
1.Ask a friend whether they already know the news.
Answer
Have you already heard the news?
2.Say that you have never heard of that band.
Answer
I’ve never heard of that band.
3.Tell someone you’ve already heard their advice.
Answer
I’ve already heard that advice.
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