Can you say: near past + recent past weeks ??

Liat,

Let's not "muddy" up the water on present perfect by starting another debate on "Mr." vs. "Mr". Event the experts have varying opinions. I understand that you have probably an image that my English is not quite native, which is ok.  I take no offense. Debates are based on what you know and how you see about certain things which is the case here. Is there anything wrong with "debatable"?

Now back to the present perfect questions about using "ago" and "past time", The rule of thumb the I’ve learned is this:

Present perfect tense goes with “since” and “for”, much like a an elegant carriage goes with horses. Of course, we can put a couple of “donkeys” in front of the carriage, much like using “ago” and “yesterday, or “past few weeks” with present perfect.

The carriage still moves along, but not very gracefully. Here is some write-ups about present prefect use with prepositional and time phrases.  Perhaps it may be helpful for some.

http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2527/presentperfect.html

Simple Past

1. The simple past is used to talk about completed actions in the past

2. The simple past is often used with expressions that refer to points of time in the past
 
 

Liat,

If you would, please go back to review the [Mr or Mr.] threads.  I supposed the concluded answer, as you said, was both acceptable; Mr for BrE and Mr. for AmE.  This must be a language “mutation” because as far I as I remembered, I was always taught all abbreviated titles required a period even by a British educated teacher going back to the early days of my ABC’s. In American, if you are a secretary and you typed [Mr] in a business letter, your boss is most likely going toss it back to you and give her a lecture; just so that you can see my point.

Thank you everyone for replying!

I did not have the present perfect in mind, but I a glad you mentioned it.

So I understand that

a. near past (cant be used in any tense)

b. recent past (cant be used in any tense)

c. recent weeks ( CAN be used in the present perfect only): "In recent weeks, I have seen lots of movies"

Thank you again!