for no ads

Present perfect + while + past simple

This is a discussion thread · 11 replies
1 2
:
Hi! Do you think the following sentence is correct?

"A magazine for students of English has asked its readers to send in articles about an interesting or unusual experience they have had while they were with other family members."

Do you know a comprehensive comparison of time clauses?

Thanks.
Junior Member72
:
The quoted sentence is correct.

I'm not sure what your other question is asking
Veteran Member14,974
Moderator: A super-user who takes care of the forums. You have the ability to message a moderator privately should you wish. These users have a range of elevated privileges including the deletion, editing and movement of posts when needed.Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.
:
TommyekDo you know a comprehensive comparison of time clauses?
No, and I doubt you can find one. The number of combinations is so large and so dependent on the exact situation being described by each sentence that I think it might be impossible to assemble anything really comprehensive. About all you can do is remember the general principles and imitate the speaking and writing of native speakers.

CJ
Veteran Member45,843
Moderator: A super-user who takes care of the forums. You have the ability to message a moderator privately should you wish. These users have a range of elevated privileges including the deletion, editing and movement of posts when needed.Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.
:
It's ungrammatical to use present perfect with specific time reference. Isn't while they were an example of it?
:
TommyekIt's ungrammatical to use present perfect with specific time reference. Isn't while they were an example of it?
I was afraid you'd ask that. Emotion: smile

You've got the rule right, but the combination is not objectionable here. I suspect that while-clauses don't violate the rule even though when-clauses do. while indicates activity over a period of time, so it's not exactly a specific (point in) time.

CJ
Moderator: A super-user who takes care of the forums. You have the ability to message a moderator privately should you wish. These users have a range of elevated privileges including the deletion, editing and movement of posts when needed.Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.
:
Thank for your help, boys. "imitate the speaking and writing of native speakers." - words of wisdom. Sometimes, it's difficult to do, especially when a teacher demands a complete grammatical correctness from you.
:
Tommyekespecially when a teacher demands a complete grammatical correctness from you
Oops! That's a special case, I suppose. Emotion: smile

CJ
Moderator: A super-user who takes care of the forums. You have the ability to message a moderator privately should you wish. These users have a range of elevated privileges including the deletion, editing and movement of posts when needed.Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.
:
Hi.

The sentence should read as, unusual experience they had while they were with other family members.

Use of past continuous indicates a finished action in the past which is in contrary with concept of present perfect.

So in my opinion, the persent perfect should be changed to past simple to have a correct grammatical structure.

Cheers
Contributing Member1,746
Trusted Users: Trusted users are allowed to use additional capabilities of the site such as private messaging to all users and various other advanced features. You cannot join this role unless you are promoted by an administrator.
:
hrsaneishould read as, unusual experience they had while they ...
Hmm. That doesn't sound quite right to my ear in the context given. The idea is that it is any experience they may have had at any time from their birth until the present moment, and you need the perfect tense to cover the whole time period.

If I talk about "an experience you had", it individualizes it, as if I know exactly which of your experiences I'm talking about. The writer wouldn't know which experience in the case described by the OP.

CJ
Moderator: A super-user who takes care of the forums. You have the ability to message a moderator privately should you wish. These users have a range of elevated privileges including the deletion, editing and movement of posts when needed.Proficient Speaker: Users in this role are known to maintain an excellent grasp of the English language. You can only be promoted to this role by the Englishforums team.
Show more
Interesting stuff
Live chat
Registered users can join here

Related forum topics:

Simple Past vs. Present Perfect?present perfect vs simple past : conflicting...(past simple/present perfect) + past perfect?Present Perfect versus Simple Past?past perfect/past simple/present perfect?past perfect?past perfect? simple present?inclusion vs. separation (present perfect and...Present Perfect / Past Simple?Present Perfect or Simple Past?simple past/past perfect?Present perfect/simple past in since clause?The Simple Past & The Past Perfect Tenses...Past Perfect vs Past Simple?Blending the simple past and simple present...Present perfect or past simple?Present Perfect Simple vs Past Simple?Simple Past or Present Perfect > Signal word:...Past Simple and Present Perfect?It's among present perfect, simple past, and...Which tense should I use? Present perfect or...

Places to start

 

Community Sites

Browse Englishforums


Help