maverick88  +  79821 Wed, 09 Mar 05 01:56 PM We've started using this expression 4 years ago Passive: 1) This expression has started to be used 4 years ago. 2) This expression has started being used 4 years ago. 3) This expression has been for 4 years now. Are 2 and 1 both correct? Does 3 consider to be a correct rewrite or I it must include 'started'? Thanks maverick88 Joined on Mon, Nov 22 2004 Israel Regular Member 695 An English learner

	pieanne  +  79828 Wed, 09 Mar 05 02:11 PM Hello, M88! It sounds all so strange! Shouldn't you have "started" instead of " have started", because of "ago"? in 1) and 2)? As for 3) , something is missing... I'd say "this expression has been in/used/fashionable for 4 years now. pieanne Joined on Thu, Jan 20 2005 South of France ...But I'm Belgian! Veteran Member 7,517 I'm glad to help, but I'm not a native! And please excuse my typos...

	Miche  +  79830 Wed, 09 Mar 05 02:14 PM I think your original sentence is incorrect. It should be: "We started using this expression 4 years go.", because you have a definite time in the past. Alternatively, you can say "This expression came into use 4 years ago." Then the passive structures will be: 1. This expression started to be used 4 years ago. 2. This expression started being used 4 years ago. 3. This expression has been used for 4 years now. 4. This expression has been in use for 4 years. Miche Joined on Fri, Jan 7 2005 Full Member 258 There's always sunshine after rain

	maverick88  +  79831 Wed, 09 Mar 05 02:14 PM OOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooOOOOooooooooooooppppppppsssss..... Did I write it? OMG...forget this thread and delete it please... maverick88

	x.mehrdad  +  80018 Thu, 10 Mar 05 06:32 AM 1-This ex. was started being used 4 years ago.(simple past) 2This ex.has been started being used since 4 years ago.(present perfect) x.mehrdad Joined on Fri, Mar 4 2005 Full Member 186 Simple Past, Present Perfect

	maverick88  +  80096 Thu, 10 Mar 05 12:22 PM Hi Mehrdad I don't understand you sentences. Why did you put the first sentence in passive? 'was started'? I think without the 'was' it'd be better. I think your second sentence is quite weird, or I just don't understand it. This exercise has been being used for 4 years (since 4 years ago) Now it's clearer to me. What do you think? maverick88

	pieanne  +  80097 Thu, 10 Mar 05 12:24 PM Second sentence: "this exercise started being used 4 years ago"/or/"this exercise has been used for 4 years", that's what I would write... pieanne

	pieanne  +  80103 Thu, 10 Mar 05 12:32 PM Thanks, Maverick. Where are you from? pieanne