Maple  +  259518 Sat, 26 Aug 06 12:53 PM Which is better: past tense or present perfect progressive tense in the following sentence? And why? Up to the present time, throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this new tendency placed /has been placing the home in the immediate suburbs, but concentrated /concentrating manufacturing activity, business relations, government, and pleasure in the centres of the cities. Thanks in advance   Maple Joined on Tue, Jul 11 2006 An ESL student in China Contributing Member 1,110 Tenses, Present Perfect, Past Tenses, Perfect Progressive

	Marius Hancu  +  259520 Sat, 26 Aug 06 01:10 PM I think Up to the present time (although throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries confuses the matter a bit) forces has been placing (present perfect) in the main sentence. However, in the subordinate (after but), I think  we should use tense simplification and use the simple past concentrated Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Tenses, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Tenses, Perfect Progressive

	Maple  +  259542 Sat, 26 Aug 06 02:46 PM Hi, So it should be: Up to the present time, throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this new tendency has been placing the home in the immediate suburbs, but concentrated manufacturing activity, business relations, government, and pleasure in the centres of the cities. But  is the subordinate  consistent with the main sentence? Thanks for you help Maple Tenses, Present Perfect, Past Tenses, Perfect Progressive

	Marius Hancu  +  259545 Sat, 26 Aug 06 03:01 PM  Maple wrote: So it should be: Up to the present time, throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this new tendency has been placing the home in the immediate suburbs, but concentrated manufacturing activity, business relations, government, and pleasure in the centres of the cities. But  is the subordinate  consistent with the main sentence? If you're concerned with absolute consistency, you should use has been concentrating/has concentrated in the subordinate too. If you want to use tense simplification, apparent inconsistency, such as in: ---- It's been a good time while it('s) lasted. I've usually like the people I('ve) worked with. Swan, Practical English Usage, tense simplification ------- is unavoidable, thus you may have: It's been a good time while it lasted. I've usually like the people I worked with.   Marius Hancu Tenses, Present Perfect, Past Tenses, Perfect Progressive

	Maple  +  259557 Sat, 26 Aug 06 03:30 PM Thank you MH! It's very helpful Maple Tenses, Present Perfect, Past Tenses, Perfect Progressive

	Marius Hancu  +  259566 Sat, 26 Aug 06 03:59 PM I've usually liked the people I worked with. (typo on my part) Marius Hancu Tenses, Present Perfect, Past Tenses, Perfect Progressive

	MrPedantic  +  259644 Sat, 26 Aug 06 10:31 PM Hello Anon It doesn't look correct to me. I would suggest: 1. If you work hard, will you pass? MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris... Tenses, Present Perfect, Past Tenses, Perfect Progressive