0
Jack112 Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Haven't seen
Scenario: I haven't seen this girl for a long time and now I'm here seeing here and she asks, "what are you smiling about?" And I say:
1. Nothing, it is just that I haven't seen you for so long. (I have heard this many times but why can I still use the present perfect when I'm seeing her now?)
2. Nothing, it is just that I hadn't seen you for so long. (Why not use this one? If it is inappropriate, when would I use it then?)
Thanks.
1. Nothing, it is just that I haven't seen you for so long. (I have heard this many times but why can I still use the present perfect when I'm seeing her now?)
2. Nothing, it is just that I hadn't seen you for so long. (Why not use this one? If it is inappropriate, when would I use it then?)
Thanks.
Top answer
#2 is inappropriate. He is smiling at the time of the utterance. As I have said many and many a time, do not use past perfect unless there are two past events, and there is potential confusion about the order of their occurrence or there is some reason to emphasize their temporal relationship.
- #2 is inappropriate.
- He is smiling at the time of the utterance.
- As I have said many and many a time, do not use past perfect unless there are two past events, and there is potential confusion about the order of their occurrence or there is some reason to emphasize their temporal relationship.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
9 Answers
0
#2 is inappropriate. He is smiling at the time of the utterance. As I have said many and many a time, do not use past perfect unless there are two past events, and there is potential confusion about the order of their occurrence or there is some reason to emphasize their temporal relationship.
00
Mister Micawber#2 is inappropriate. He is smiling at the time of the utterance. As I have said many and many a time, do not use past perfect unless there are two past events, and there is potential confusion about the order of their occurrence or there is some reason to emphasize their temporal relationship.1. Nothing, it is just that I
00
Just as it works in:
I haven't had a peach in six months. (while eating a peach)
I haven't attended an English lesson since January. (while taking a lesson)
I haven't seen Los Angeles for 15 years! (while deplaning at LAX)
Duration from an unspecified past point until now. The precise now point need not be at the instant of utterance, Jac
I haven't had a peach in six months. (while eating a peach)
I haven't attended an English lesson since January. (while taking a lesson)
I haven't seen Los Angeles for 15 years! (while deplaning at LAX)
Duration from an unspecified past point until now. The precise now point need not be at the instant of utterance, Jac
00
hi
I heard or read somehwere that present progressive + to see is NOT possible.
Cant quite remember anymore, but I guess I didn't understad it either.
So, is there any rule according to which the verb to see mustn't be combinated with present progressive?
If not, then I'm mixing something up.
I heard or read somehwere that present progressive + to see is NOT possible.
Cant quite remember anymore, but I guess I didn't understad it either.
So, is there any rule according to which the verb to see mustn't be combinated with present progressive?
If not, then I'm mixing something up.
00
Dear Globetrotter,
It is grammatical to say «I am seeing».
It is grammatical to say «I am seeing».
- I am seeing double.
- He is seeing things.
- Are you seeing an error message?
- I do not understand some of the things that I am seeing on the screen.
- I am seeing your wife tomorrow night.
00
Mister MicawberJust as it works in:
I haven't had a peach in six months. (while eating a peach)
I haven't attended an English lesson since January. (while taking a lesson)
I haven't seen Los Angeles for 15 years! (while deplaning at LAX)
Duration from an unspecified past point until now. The precise now point need not
00
I believe the first one is right because you are getting the car tomorrow; therefore, you are still technically waiting to get the car.
Also I've been instructed to only use past perfect tense when two things occured in the past and you want to let the audience know which event happened first. (Does this sentence make sense??)
If you want to express that you are not wait
Also I've been instructed to only use past perfect tense when two things occured in the past and you want to let the audience know which event happened first. (Does this sentence make sense??)
If you want to express that you are not wait
00
What if I just bought the car? What would I use?
1. I had waited so long for this car. (So I have the car now and I'm not waiting anymore. But past perfect is incorrect here? How do I express myself not waiting anymore then?)
2. I have waited so long for this car. (This doesn't necessary mean that I'm still waiting for the car right? I think I'm getting this now.)
1. I had waited so long for this car. (So I have the car now and I'm not waiting anymore. But past perfect is incorrect here? How do I express myself not waiting anymore then?)
2. I have waited so long for this car. (This doesn't necessary mean that I'm still waiting for the car right? I think I'm getting this now.)
00
Now you're starting to cook, Jack!
Of the first pair, now that the car is purchased and at hand, either perfect is possible; still, #2, I suspect, is far the more popular choice. Much now depends on the hidden context-- what the speaker is thinking, how s/he is viewing the situation, as s/he speaks. Here, s/he could be thinking:
I had waited so long for this car (when
Of the first pair, now that the car is purchased and at hand, either perfect is possible; still, #2, I suspect, is far the more popular choice. Much now depends on the hidden context-- what the speaker is thinking, how s/he is viewing the situation, as s/he speaks. Here, s/he could be thinking:
I had waited so long for this car (when
0
Related Questions