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Antía Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

He has already left when we arrived

Just a direct question: could this sentence have the meaning of habitual action?:

He has already left when we arrive. (=He is gone always when I arrive)


Thanks!
  

Top answer

No, it's not possible like that... "he has already left" refers to a present situation, that is "he IS no longer here". " B: "Sorry, he has already left" or "John had already left when we arrived", which refers to a past situation.

— Pieanne

  • No, it's not possible like that...
  • "he has already left" refers to a present situation, that is "he IS no longer here".
  • " B: "Sorry, he has already left" or "John had already left when we arrived", which refers to a past situation.
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4 Answers
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No, it's not possible like that...

"he has already left" refers to a present situation, that is "he IS no longer here". So, either it is:

A: "Hello, can I speak with John?"
B: "Sorry, he has already left"

or

"John had already left when we arrived", which refers to a past situation.
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I meant "arrive", without the final -d... (He has already left when we arrive)
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No, doesn't work with "arrive" either
You can say:
"he will have already left when we arrivE", and that's in the future, a kind of projection in the future.
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Just a direct answer: Yes, it could be used to express habitual action, but it's awkward and rarely used, and it borders on the unidiomatic without a little sprucing up, especially with "always".

(Unfortunately,) (it seems) he has always already left by the time we arrive.

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