Learn English – “I never saw it before” vs. “I have never seen it before”

past-simplepresent-perfect

Is there any difference in meaning between I never saw it before and I have never seen it before when talking about life expriences? For example:

I never saw such a big fish in real life before. This is the first time.

I have never seen such a big fish in real life before. This is the first time.

Until recently, I would have thought that the first sebtences was incorrect. But, in the 11th episode of the 10th season of Friends, one of the characters used the Past Simple instead of the Present Perfect. Here it is:

Roy: What's the matter? You never saw a 50 year old stripper cry
before?

Would the meaning be exactly the same if he said you have never seen a 50 year old stripper cry before?

Best Answer

To agree with Colin, as an American speaker, I'm pretty sure these are dialectical differences. I can hear native speakers saying either one.