jack112  +  179648 Fri, 06 Jan 06 10:09 AM 1. Sorry, it has taken me a while to get back to you. I was busy. (Is this one correct? It is better to use #2 right?) 2. Sorry, it has taken me a while to get back to you. I have been busy. 3. Sorry, it took me a while to get back to you. I was busy. (Are #2 and #3 pretty much the same in meaning except that #2 states a time in the past to present?) Thanks. jack112 Joined on Thu, Jul 22 2004 Regular Member 715

	MrPedantic  +  179850 Sat, 07 Jan 06 01:59 AM Hello Jack I've changed them slightly, to make them more idiomatic: 1. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. I was busy. ] I am getting back to you now. I was busy. 2. Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. I have been busy. ] I am getting back to you now. I was busy and I'm still busy. 3. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I was busy. ] I got back to you in the past. I was busy. MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris...

	jack112  +  181912 Thu, 12 Jan 06 05:07 AM 1. Now, there is an awesome loooking bike if I have ever seen it. (Is this correct? What is the meaning of this sentence? I don't understand the 'have ever seen it' part.) Thanks. jack112

	Mister Micawber  +  181933 Thu, 12 Jan 06 06:30 AM I'd say, if I've ever seen one.  The literal meaning is much as it states:  if I have ever seen a bike that I considered awesome, it looked like this one does.  The semantic message is:  This bike is certainly awesome. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,805 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

	Mister Micawber  +  182075 Thu, 12 Jan 06 02:17 PM Yeah, that's good too, Sam. Mister Micawber

	MrPedantic  +  182346 Fri, 13 Jan 06 01:17 AM Or "...if ever there was one". MrP MrPedantic