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Melancholy Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Confused! Past / Present or Present Perfect?
Upon reading the following link, I am confused with the usage of past tense, present perfect and present tense:
http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2005-9/Sep05-legalupdates2.htm
Case 1:
1a. The Subordinate Court (Amendment) Bill 2005, which was introduced in Parliament on 18 July 2005, has been passed on 15 August 2005. However, the Bill has not been gazetted and has not come into force yet.
But
1b. The Weights and Measures (Amendment) Bill 2005 was passed by Parliament on 15 August 2005. However, the Bill has not been gazetted and has not come into force.
Case 2:
2a. When the Limited Liability Partnerships (Amendment) Regulations 2005 come into operation on 22 August 2005, the Limited Liability Partnerships Regulations will be amended to allow additional documents (other than the electronic transaction forms prescribed at www.bizfile.gov.sg) prescribed for the purposes of the Limited Liability Act to be provided at a second URL, namely www.acra.gov.sg/IIp/prescribed.html.
But
?2b. The Limited Liability Partnerships (Winding Up) Rules 2005 were issued to set out the procedure for the winding up of Limited Liability Partnerships. The Rules came into effect on 10 August 2005.
In brief, in case 1a, it says, "...has been passed on 15 August 2005", but in case 1b, it says, "was passed by Parliament on 15 August 2005".
In case 2a, it says,"come into operation on 22 August 2005..", but in case 2b, it says, "the Rules came into effect on 10 August 2005".
Are they all correct? Does the time adverbial play any meaningful role in these sentences? Why? Please explain it to a non-English speaker like me. Thx.
http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2005-9/Sep05-legalupdates2.htm
Case 1:
1a. The Subordinate Court (Amendment) Bill 2005, which was introduced in Parliament on 18 July 2005, has been passed on 15 August 2005. However, the Bill has not been gazetted and has not come into force yet.
But
1b. The Weights and Measures (Amendment) Bill 2005 was passed by Parliament on 15 August 2005. However, the Bill has not been gazetted and has not come into force.
Case 2:
2a. When the Limited Liability Partnerships (Amendment) Regulations 2005 come into operation on 22 August 2005, the Limited Liability Partnerships Regulations will be amended to allow additional documents (other than the electronic transaction forms prescribed at www.bizfile.gov.sg) prescribed for the purposes of the Limited Liability Act to be provided at a second URL, namely www.acra.gov.sg/IIp/prescribed.html.
But
?2b. The Limited Liability Partnerships (Winding Up) Rules 2005 were issued to set out the procedure for the winding up of Limited Liability Partnerships. The Rules came into effect on 10 August 2005.
In brief, in case 1a, it says, "...has been passed on 15 August 2005", but in case 1b, it says, "was passed by Parliament on 15 August 2005".
In case 2a, it says,"come into operation on 22 August 2005..", but in case 2b, it says, "the Rules came into effect on 10 August 2005".
Are they all correct? Does the time adverbial play any meaningful role in these sentences? Why? Please explain it to a non-English speaker like me. Thx.
Top answer
htm Case 1: 1a. The Subordinate Court (Amendment) Bill 2005, which was introduced in Parliament on 18 July 2005, has been passed on 15 August 2005 . However, the Bill has not been gazetted and has not come into force yet.
- htm Case 1: 1a.
- The Subordinate Court (Amendment) Bill 2005, which was introduced in Parliament on 18 July 2005, has been passed on 15 August 2005 .
- However, the Bill has not been gazetted and has not come into force yet.
- This is poor English.
- The Present perfect should not be used when referring to a specific time in the past.
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7 Answers
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Hi,
Upon reading the following link, I am confused with the usage of past tense, present perfect and present tense:
http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2005-9/Sep05-legalupdat
Upon reading the following link, I am confused with the usage of past tense, present perfect and present tense:
http://www.lawgazette.com.sg/2005-9/Sep05-legalupdat
00
Clive,
Thanks for your reply.
You say the Present perfect should not be used when referring to a specific time in the past.
The following link says there are two uses of the perfect tense:
http://rong-chang.com/blogs/?p=135
Thanks for your reply.
You say the Present perfect should not be used when referring to a specific time in the past.
The following link says there are two uses of the perfect tense:
http://rong-chang.com/blogs/?p=135
00
Hi,
Yes, the significance of the past event to the present situation is the key to the Present Perfect..
But it is enough just to indicate that it happened at some unspecified point in the past.
Yes, the significance of the past event to the present situation is the key to the Present Perfect..
But it is enough just to indicate that it happened at some unspecified point in the past.
00
Clive,
Back to case 2, can I use present tense to talk about past actions?
E.g. The Bill passes on 1 May 2012.... ( I see such uses in newspaper / wikipedia, which is termed as "historical present).
Sometimes, I see people use it interchangeably with past tense, so what's the restrictions on the use of "historical present?
Melancholy
Back to case 2, can I use present tense to talk about past actions?
E.g. The Bill passes on 1 May 2012.... ( I see such uses in newspaper / wikipedia, which is termed as "historical present).
Sometimes, I see people use it interchangeably with past tense, so what's the restrictions on the use of "historical present?
Melancholy
00
Clive,
For example, I have gone through the entire annual report of manchester city for 2009-10, I see:
For example, I have gone through the entire annual report of manchester city for 2009-10, I see:
However, whatever happens this year, the fans
and employees of MCFC can be confident in
the knowledge that their football club is now in a
position to compete and succeed in the way that
so many hoped wo
00
HI,
Back to case 2, can I use present tense to talk about past actions?
E.g. The Bill passes on 1 May 2012.... ( I see such uses in newspaper / wikipedia, which is termed as "historical present).
Sometimes, I see people use it interchangeably with past tense, so what's the restrictions on the use of "historical present?
It is used
Back to case 2, can I use present tense to talk about past actions?
E.g. The Bill passes on 1 May 2012.... ( I see such uses in newspaper / wikipedia, which is termed as "historical present).
Sometimes, I see people use it interchangeably with past tense, so what's the restrictions on the use of "historical present?
It is used
00
Hi,
For example, I have gone through the entire annual report of manchester city for 2009-10, I see:
For example, I have gone through the entire annual report of manchester city for 2009-10, I see:
However, whatever happens this year, the fans
and employees of MCFC can be confident in
the knowledge that their football club is now in a
position to compete and succeed in the way that
so many hoped would one da
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