This tag is use to look back from a specific time and talk about things up to that time or about things that are important at that time.
Questions tagged [perfect-aspect]
131 questions
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Why is the past perfect used here? It doesn't seem to refer to two past actions...
"Although the waves barely covered my knees on this crossing, I still stopped on far bank and looked back to the mainland with a sense of exhilaration. I had made it back to my childhood island.(From Coastlines by Patrick Barkham ).
It seems not…
V.V.
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Telling about recent actions in modern English
Let’s suppose that a few days ago your friend recommended a certain book to you, so later on you took went out
and bought that book for yourself.
How would you normally relate the foregoing sequence of
events in modern English?
Let’s further assume…
Pyotr Sobolev
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3
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1 answer
Can Present Perfect with a time period tell about an action that stopped in the past
I spent 20 years in the software industry where...
As I was taught, it implies that the talker doesn't work in this software industry now. Otherwise he would have said "I have spent 20 years..."
My question is why you can't use Present Perfect…
mosceo
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2 answers
"We have broken this rule for 2 years."
We have broken this rule for 2 years.
Can I use the verb to break in a Present Perfect with a time period adverbial, like I use to stand in the sentence "This tree has stood here for many years."
mosceo
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2 answers
I've never *been* sailing
Murphy's grammar (Unit 63D) explains the usage of the structure go -ing: go swimming, go climbing etc. It gives a number of examples:
How often do you go swimming?
When did you last go shopping?
I've never been sailing. (!!)
What is been doing…
mosceo
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1
vote
4 answers
What does "has had" mean in sentences?
I came across many sentences which have has had, had had for example
The one that has had the most profound impact is generics
I wanted to know what are the basic rule of using those?
dnup1092
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Simple Aspect and Perfect aspect in Tense construction
What is the difference between the Simple aspect and the Perfect aspect?
Background:
It says: "The simple aspect does not tell us whether action is ongoing or complete as it does not contain either the progressive or perfective aspects."
However,…
brp7
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vote
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I am walking VS I have been walking
I am walking.
I have been walking.
I know those sentences have the same meaning. But under what context is it better to use one rather than the other?
Maybe below.
I am walking for more than 2 hours. (Wrong!)
I have been walking for more than 2…
user1187968
1
vote
2 answers
Continuous aspect for something happening again and again. What nuances does the aspect add to the meaning of sentence?
About continuous aspect in this site British council>Continuous aspect, they say that continuous aspect can be used to describe something happening again and again. I don't really understand the example below:
They've been doing that every day this…
Ssupermeo
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Based on "I would have stayed", did Edward stay or leave?
Normally, if I hear somebody say "I would have stayed", I would expect a "but" coming along stating the reason why instead the speaker did not stay. Or, I would expect subsequently there will be an adverbial phrase/clause of time as in 'I would have…
Jenny
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vote
2 answers
- Have you already finished your essay? - No, I will ___ it by this Thursday
In an online placement test that is, frankly, not the best of the best, this sentence is provided with a gap to be filled:
Have you already finished your essay? - No, I will ___ it by this Thursday
The correct answer is, obviously, "have…
R.I.P.30.12.21Baskakov_Dmitriy
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Can I use the helping verb "had" instead of "has" in the Perfect Tense when talking about the present period of time?
When I talk about a period of time that hasn't finished yet (at the moment of speaking), can I use the helping verb "had" instead of "has" in the Perfect Tense?
For example, should I still say:
By the end of this academic year she has really…
brilliant
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Problems with perfect tenses
I have some problems with Present Perfect tenses. I often see in movies or in books where 2 characters are talking about situation that take place right now. When they see the result, instead of using present perfect, they use past simple. Even when…
user331990
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"...to understand what he did / had done."
The context is that a mathematician solves a great problem and publishes his proof.
He was known as a great mathematician and everyone wanted to understand what he had done.
Everything is clear here. He did something before people wanted to…
mosceo
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Future Perfect continuous question
Wondering if it is correct to use Future Perfect continuous time in the sentence:
"We will have been eating by 8pm tomorrow, so plz come at 9pm."
Or it is better to us Future Perfect:
"We will have eaten by 8pm tomorrow, so plz come at 9pm."
I'd…
Pavel