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Hans51 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Had lived VS. lived
1) I have lived in the USA for two years.
2) I had lived in the USA for two years.
3) I lived in the USA last year.
I know what difference there is between #1 and #2 and I think present and past perfect tense go well with for because actions in the tenses persist for a while, but past verbs go well with last year because actions in the past tense finish at a point. However, we can see past verbs with for, for example, 4) I lived in the USA for two years and I think #2 and #4 are acceptable and have the same meaning. What do you teachers think about it?
2) I had lived in the USA for two years.
3) I lived in the USA last year.
I know what difference there is between #1 and #2 and I think present and past perfect tense go well with for because actions in the tenses persist for a while, but past verbs go well with last year because actions in the past tense finish at a point. However, we can see past verbs with for, for example, 4) I lived in the USA for two years and I think #2 and #4 are acceptable and have the same meaning. What do you teachers think about it?
Top answer
1) I have lived in the USA for two years. (this means that you either moved to the US two years ago and still live there or you used to live there for two years; further context is needed to resolve the ambiguity) 2) I had lived in the USA for two years. (this requires a past, reference point of time.
- 1) I have lived in the USA for two years.
- (this means that you either moved to the US two years ago and still live there or you used to live there for two years; further context is needed to resolve the ambiguity) 2) I had lived in the USA for two years.
- (this requires a past, reference point of time.
- Your living in the US would then correspond to the two years period prior to that past event ) 3) I lived in the USA last year.
- (fine) 4) I lived in the USA for two years.
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2 Answers
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1) I have lived in the USA for two years. (this means that you either moved to the US two years ago and still live there or you used to live there for two years; further context is needed to resolve the ambiguity)
2) I had lived in the USA for two years. (this requires a past, reference point of time. Your living in the US would then correspond to the two years period prior to that past
2) I had lived in the USA for two years. (this requires a past, reference point of time. Your living in the US would then correspond to the two years period prior to that past
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Thank you so much!! You have solved the trouble that has bothered me for a long time. You are a lifesaver.
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