Click here to play!

tense - presenting a person

Click here to play
   Share on Facebook  
Anonymous  #542905  Fri, 18 Jul 08 04:21 AM
Hi,

When you are presenting a person at a meeting, what tense should  one use?

He has graduated (graduated??) from *** University and has worked (worked??) for the *** Company for ten years. 
  
Mister Micawber  #542925  Fri, 18 Jul 08 05:39 AM
.
He graduated from *** University... -- the action is complete and in the past.

 ...and worked/has worked for the *** Company for ten years. -- Either is possible; use the present perfect if he is still working for the *** Company.
.
  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004
Yokohama
Veteran Member (20,418)
SystemAdministratorTeachers
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'
Anonymous  #543302  Sat, 19 Jul 08 01:16 AM
Thank you. What do you make of these from the Google Book search?

- 도서 정보 - 내 서재에 추가하기 - 기타 출판본 더보기
Women in Changing Japan - 247 페이지저자: Joyce C. Lebra, Joyce Lebra-Chapman, Joy Paulson, Elizabeth Powers - 1977 - 322 페이지
My daughter has graduated from university and is now working as a teacher at a
junior college. I hope that she will continue to work after she marries. ... 짧은 발췌문 보기 - 도서 정보 - 내 서재에 추가하기 - 기타 출판본 더보기
Sheng li zhi guang - 92 페이지1985
One of his two young children has now grown up to have his own family and to set
up his own company , and the other has graduated from university. ... 짧은 발췌문 보기 - 도서 정보 - 내 서재에 추가하기 - 기타 출판본 더보기


According to you, the actions were complete and there aren't any needs to use the past perfect, are there??
  
Grammar Geek  #543321  Sat, 19 Jul 08 02:06 AM

It just means that the action was recently completed.

 

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006
Pennsylvania, USA
Veteran Member (15,288)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
Barbara, who answers in American English.
Anonymous  #543338  Sat, 19 Jul 08 02:32 AM

Thank you. Do all these from the Google Book search validate your assertion? To me, not all cases shown seem to show the current-time frame.

Code of Federal Regulations - 176 페이지저자: Office of the Federal Register, United States Federal Register Division, United States - 1986
A person who is licensed as a physical therapist assistant, if applicable, by
the State in which practicing, and (1) Has graduated from a 2-year ... 짧은 발췌문 보기 - 도서 정보 - 내 서재에 추가하기 - 기타 출판본 더보기
Statistics of Land-grant Colleges and Universities - 202 페이지저자: United States Office of Education, Office of Education, United States - 1918
The man teacher in the larger schools is over 30 years of age, has graduated from
a four-year college, and has been in his present position nearly two years ... 짧은 발췌문 보기 - 도서 정보 - 내 서재에 추가하기 - 기타 출판본 더보기
A Study of Some Problems Arising in the Admission of Students as Candidates ...
A Study of Some Problems Arising in the Admission of Students as Candidates ... - xii 페이지저자: Clarence Linton - 1927 - 163 페이지
Xll Maximum Credit Allowed in Advanced Standing Toward the Requirements for the
Bachelor's Degree in Education to a Student Who Has Graduated from an ... 짧은 발췌문 보기 - 도서 정보 - 내 서재에 추가하기 - 기타 출판본 더보기

Internal Labor Markets and Employment Transitions in South Korea
Internal Labor Markets and Employment Transitions in South Korea - 59 페이지저자: Dr Kim, Kim Sunghoon - 2004 - 142 페이지
1 if one has graduated from middle school, 0 otherwise. 1 if one has graduated
from high school, 0 otherwise. 1 if one has graduated from ... 일부보기 - 도서 정보 - 내 서재에 추가하기 - 기타 출판본 더보기
  
Mister Micawber  #543442  Sat, 19 Jul 08 09:11 AM
.
All such uses, when correctly applied, relate the past event to the present situation in some way-- that is the general boundary of the use of the present  perfect verb aspect.

The original poster wished to introduce a person, including indicating that the person was a college graduate:  here,. simple past is appropriate.  In the latest Anon post, the excerpts wish to stress that the person mentioned should have graduated by now (= the current point of reference in each case)-- thus relating the past event to the present.  The same reasoning applies when present perfect is used to refer to a recent past event-- it is not simply that the event occurred not long ago, but that it occurred not long before now.

Does that help you understand, Anon?
.
  
Huevos  #543534  Sat, 19 Jul 08 02:39 PM
Grammar Geek

It just means that the action was recently completed.

 

Not necessarilly. It just means the residual state is still current.
  
Top 150 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Mar 25 2008
Spain
Full Member (445)
British Native
Marius Hancu  #543547  Sat, 19 Jul 08 03:41 PM
To remove doubts, use one of  the:

He (has) recently graduated from *** University

He has just graduated from *** University

He graduated from *** University

with the perfect present forms meant to show recent events, connected  with the present.  

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006
Montreal, Canada
Veteran Member (11,673)
Proficient Speaker
Anonymous  #544160  Sun, 20 Jul 08 11:27 PM
Thank you. You seemed to have covered a broad topic that could not possibly be summed up in a few sentences but you seemed to have done it nicely. Thank you. Yes, it did help me.
  
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions