I have lived in New York for five years before.

1. I live in Taiwan now. But I am quite familiar with New York because I have lived there for five yeas before.

2.  I live in Taiwan now. But I am quite familiar with New York because I lived there for five yeas before.

Which is corrrect, #1 or #2?

3. He lives in Taiwan now. He is not familiar with New York although he has lived there for five years.

4.  He lives in Taiwan now. He is not familiar with New York although he lived there for five years.

Hi Teo,

I think the simple past works best in both sets.  (2 & 4 are correct.)  It's probably arguable whether 1 & 3 are correct or not.  I would say not.

Hi,

My only objection to the second is there's no past reference time.  Had is usually up to some particular point in the past.

Teo

1. I am living in Taiwan for six yearss. Incorrect usage.

2. I have been living in Taiwan for six years. I started living in Taiwan six years ago and am still living there.

3. I have lived in Taiwan for six years. Possibly means the same as no. 2, or could mean that once in the past I lived in Taiwan for a period of six years.

Do you agree that #3 could mean that once in the past I lived in Taiwan for a period of six years?

I agree that it's arguably possible, but anyone who wishes to convey that thought would be well-advised to to make it less ambiguous.

People often say things like, "I have been living in Taiwan off and on for the past twenty years."  In this version, the total accumulated time spent there is unknown.

Absent previous context to the contrary, a native speaker would probably assume that both 2. and 3. mean "During the past six years I have been living continuously in Taiwan."

"In my youth / during the 1990's I spent six years living in Taiwan." (simple past)

If you really want to use "have" to indicate a period in the past, you should probably put the duration in a different clause or sentence.

"Have you ever lived abroad?"  "Yes, I have lived in Turkey, in Iraq, and in Peru."

Switch to simple past for the durations:  "I spent six months in Turkey, two years in Iraq, and six years in Peru."  "I lived / had lived here in France for twenty-five years before moving to Turkey."

Regards,  - A.

Goodman

Teo,

Many already posted their answers. But I will  give my two cent's  worth anyway. This is what I would say:  

1. I live in Taiwan now. But I am quite familiar with New York because I had lived there for five yeas before.   The fact that you did live in N.Y. for five years which was a long time, I would use past perfect. Simply because you left the city but you had lived there.

2.  I live in Taiwan now. But I am quite familiar with New York because I lived there for five yeas before.

# 2 is ok but “before” is not really necessary.

3. He lives in Taiwan now. He is not familiar with New York although he had lived there for five years.

4.  He lives in Taiwan now. He is not familiar with New York although he lived there for five years. - acceptable

"For" and the past fact STRONGELY call for past perfect tense in my (you know, a student's) brain.  Glad to read your comment, Goodman!