why not simple past

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#356355 Thu, 26 Apr 07 11:59 PM

Hello!

1. Jean _______ (visit) Gracelands, the house where Elvis _______ (suffer) his fatal heart attack, twice in the past few years.

I don't know why but tke answer key gives "has visited" while I would say "visited" since there is "in the past few years", a closed period that belongs to the past...

2. ... and during the past year over 100,000 people _______ (turn up) to watch the proceedings.

Same thing in this one... the key says "have turned up" and I have not a slightest idea why not "turned up"

Thanks!

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Poland

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Goodman

#356361 Fri, 27 Apr 07 12:11 AM

Forum_mail wrote:
Hello!

1. Jean _______ (visit) Gracelands, the house where Elvis _______ (suffer) his fatal heart attack, twice in the past few years.

I don't know why but tke answer key gives "has visited" while I would say "visited" since there is "in the past few years", a closed period that belongs to the past...

2. ... and during the past year over 100,000 people _______ (turn up) to watch the proceedings.

Same thing in this one... the key says "have turned up" and I have not a slightest idea why not "turned up"

Thanks!

When we talk about something we have done in genreal, with no past time tagging like 2 hours ago or yesterday, we typically use present perfect tense to inform others that it has happened. It's much like saying" I have never been to Africa". So for #1, has visited" is correct.

For # 2 "during the past year" could be a misleading phrase which may lead readers to think past tense and "have turned up" could make one scratch his or her head. Actually, it's refers to the number of people (100,000) who have turned up so far since last year. Therefore "have turned up" is also correct in my opinion.

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,243)

The name says it all!

Tenses, Numbers, Present perfect, Past tenses

Clive

#356362 Fri, 27 Apr 07 12:12 AM

Hi,

1. Jean _______ (visit) Gracelands, the house where Elvis _______ (suffer) his fatal heart attack, twice in the past few years.

I don't know why but tke answer key gives "has visited" while I would say "visited" since there is "in the past few years", a closed period that belongs to the past... I wouldn't say the past few years refers to a closed period in the past. It refers to the last few years up to and including now, the present. So, the Present Perfect seems appropriate.

2. ... and during the past year over 100,000 people _______ (turn up) to watch the proceedings.

Same thing in this one... the key says "have turned up" and I have not a slightest idea why not "turned up" It's because the writer is thinking of 'the past year up until now'. And the witer seems to be stating a fact that has importance now, to the present time.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,263)

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

Present perfect

Goodman

#356363 Fri, 27 Apr 07 12:12 AM

Forum_mail wrote:
Hello!

1. Jean _______ (visit) Gracelands, the house where Elvis _______ (suffer) his fatal heart attack, twice in the past few years.

I don't know why but tke answer key gives "has visited" while I would say "visited" since there is "in the past few years", a closed period that belongs to the past...

2. ... and during the past year over 100,000 people _______ (turn up) to watch the proceedings.

Same thing in this one... the key says "have turned up" and I have not a slightest idea why not "turned up"

Thanks!

Goodman

Tenses, Numbers, Present perfect, Past tenses

CalifJim

#356475 Fri, 27 Apr 07 06:09 AM

The present perfect goes best with

[in / for / during] the [past / last] [few / several] [hours / days / weeks / ...]

All such expressions represent a period of time from the past to the present.

(Nevertheless, you'll sometimes hear the simple past in that context.)

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,568)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Expressions, Simple past, Present perfect

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#356490 Fri, 27 Apr 07 08:08 AM

thank you!

and could I say "have been visiting" ? and "have been turning up" ?

sounds odd to me since it doesn't indicate a finished or completed action but assuming that they continue to visit those places... hmm... <doing some thinking> What's your opinion on that?

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CalifJim

#356748 Fri, 27 Apr 07 07:47 PM

*has been visiting ... twice will never do!
To me, have been turning up suggests repeatedly, and I don't believe that that is plausible in this context.

CJ

CalifJim

Anonymous

#356754 Fri, 27 Apr 07 08:06 PM

1. Jean --has visited-- (visit) Gracelands, the house where Elvis __had suffer____ (suffer) his fatal heart attack, twice in the past few years.

this correct sentence

Anonymous

#356756 Fri, 27 Apr 07 08:14 PM

Hello

why we have to say is.. if you did exams, that result with you for every. In this case we must use have or has.Here we are saying about third person so has will take place infrount of visited.

For example if you taken food... how we can discous issue.... gernely we will ask like this about third person...

Ramesh had his lunch? here there is no result.. just he finished work...

I hope now you understood where to use have, has , had

Anonymous

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