Sentence checker of easy english

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Clive

#283244 Thu, 19 Oct 06 10:27 PM

Hi Goodman,

You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with time expressions such as "yesterday," "one year ago," "last week," "when I was a chlid," "when I lived in Japan," "at that moment," "that day" or "one day."

It depends on how you use these time expressions. It means that you can't say things like "I haven't been home yesterday". However, it does not mean that you can't say 'I haven't been home since yesterday'. Such constructions are very common. eg I haven't seen Tom since 1997. I have lived in Montreal since last year.

With specific regard to my sentence using 'ago' ("I haven't been home since 5 months ago."), this seems fine and perfectly natural to me. 'Since 2 years ago' establishes a point in the past, just as if I had said 'since 2004'. However, I know that some other people may and do object to the use of 'ago' with the Present Perfect in this way. I don't share this concern at all.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,568)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Regards, Constructions, Expressions, Present Perfect

Goodman

#283272 Thu, 19 Oct 06 11:52 PM

Hi Clive,

I guess what struck me was “I haven’t been home since 5 months ago”. It somehow tickles my ears. I guess it depends on how the sentence or the context it’s constructed. If the sentence is modified with an adverbial phrase as follows, it would sound ok to me:

“I haven’t been home since [Aunt Barbara’s birthday] 5 months ago”. I was taught that if “since” is used as linking word between event or things happened in the past which continues to present, it is ok to use the passed time reference because it constituted one of the three main criteria which is “duration”.

Which one would you prefer if a student says:

A – I have lived in California for 5 years [since the first day I arrived the US.]

B – I have lived in California since 5 years ago.

Idiomatically, I believe A is the correct answer either idiomatically and grammatically, although both have the magic linking word [since]. The only difference is the time phrase. I don’t mean to contradict your post, just want to firm up my own knowledge.

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Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,247)

The name says it all!

Clive

#283292 Fri, 20 Oct 06 01:19 AM

Hi Goodman,

Which one would you prefer if a student says:

A – I have lived in California for 5 years [since the first day I arrived the US.]

B – I have lived in California since 5 years ago.

Like you, I prefer A in the above example, but I think B is OK too, albeit somewhat informal. However, as I said, some people (you, for one Smile [:)] ) would disagree with me.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Tam Sadek

#283294 Fri, 20 Oct 06 01:32 AM

I'd agree with you Clive.

In the classroom A is the norm, but then again in real life B is acceptable.

I think what we forget as native speakers is that when we learnt (or learned) English our teachers were trying to standardise (or standardize) our English along a restricted set of 'rules'.

However, in reality you can't force native speakers to comply to those rules.

I often 'hear' myself and other English native-speaker teachers using 'acceptable' (for us) English, which we would probably jump on and correct in a classroom if spoken by an English language learner!

It often saddens me that we operate using different sets of 'rules' for different users of the language...

Tam Sadek

Joined on Wed, Oct 4 2006

Full Member (265)

The more you see, the less you know...

Anonymous

#286438 Sat, 28 Oct 06 02:02 AM

i am good in..... is the correct way of saying

Anonymous

Goodman

#286537 Sat, 28 Oct 06 09:56 AM

If I remember correctly, somewhere in my past learning, the grammar book I came across said if “since” is used in a present perfect sentence, it’s incorrect to use “ago” in the same context, although I hear this from Natives from time to time.

Goodman

Grammar, Present Perfect

Anonymous

#286559 Sat, 28 Oct 06 11:49 AM

Hi Goodman

I think it's important to keep in mind that a good grammar book provides good guidelines. But, they can't possibly address every eventuality that might arise. Saying "I've lived here since I was 15 years old." is just as valid and grammatically correct as saying "I've lived here since 5 years ago." However, the latter does sound awkward and, in my opinion, that fact alone is reason enough to avoid it. Big Smile [:D]