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Perfect Stranger Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Grammar Q no. 6 - present perfect or past simple in this sentence
Hey, I'm not sure whether I should use present perfect here or past simple. On the one hand we use present perfect to describe some general experience, especially when not related to any particular date... But on the other hand, I think the action belongs to the past... even though it's not specified...
In construction of high-rise buildings, the Group successfully participated in building Central Medical University Inpatient Department Building
What do you think?
In construction of high-rise buildings, the Group successfully participated in building Central Medical University Inpatient Department Building
What do you think?
Top answer
Perfect Stranger I think the action belongs to the past... even though it's not specified... Yes.
- Perfect Stranger I think the action belongs to the past...
- even though it's not specified...
- Yes.
- The sentence singles out one particular building that was constructed, and that had to have happened at a particular time in the past, so the mention of that specific accomplishment, being nearly equivalent to the mention of a specific time, suggests that the present perfect would not be the best choice.
- CJ
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7 Answers
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Perfect StrangerI think the action belongs to the past... even though it's not specified...Yes. The sentence singles out one particular building that was constructed, and that had to have happened at a particular time in the past, so the mention of that specific accomplishment, being nearly equivalent to the mention of a specific time, suggests that the pres
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Thanks CJ!
CalifJimThe sentence singles out one particular building that was constructed, and that had to have happened at a particular time in the past, so the mention of that specific accomplishment, being nearly equivalent to the mention of a specific time, suggests that the present perfect would not be the best choice.I agree. Yet, confusion remains when I
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Perfect StrangerYet, confusion remains when I look at this sentenceHmm. Really? It says "dozens of ... projects", so it can't be one specific time. It's not likely that all those projects were done at the same specific time. Present perfect sounds right to me.
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Morning CJ,
Let me drag this topic a bit more.
What tense would you use in this sentence?
Moreover, we also have taken part in bridge construction projects including Shanghai Nanpu Bridge and Yangpu Bridge.
Again, on the one hand I'd say present perfect is better but on the other hand, two specific projects are mentioned here so perhaps I should us
Let me drag this topic a bit more.
What tense would you use in this sentence?
Moreover, we also have taken part in bridge construction projects including Shanghai Nanpu Bridge and Yangpu Bridge.
Again, on the one hand I'd say present perfect is better but on the other hand, two specific projects are mentioned here so perhaps I should us
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Now I'm beginning to see that these are all sentences extracted from a whole group of sentences.
In such cases you can't really judge each sentence separately. You need to get the big picture. There may be reasons for maintaining the same tense throughout, and there may be reasons for varying the tenses.
Except in cases where a specific time is mentioned, either tense (simple p
In such cases you can't really judge each sentence separately. You need to get the big picture. There may be reasons for maintaining the same tense throughout, and there may be reasons for varying the tenses.
Except in cases where a specific time is mentioned, either tense (simple p
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CalifJimNow I'm beginning to see that these are all sentences extracted from a whole group of sentences.Exactly.
Hmm... OK, let's say that the final sentence (mentioned in my previous post) is separated from other. Would you use present perfect or past simple?
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Perfect StrangerOK, let's say that the final sentence (mentioned in my previous post) is separated from other. Would you use present perfect or past simple?I'm indifferent to the choice. Both sound good. I might use the past simple, I suppose.
CJ
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