I am very close to working out the rule. But please check first...

Question

Hi, dear teachers. Sorry for doing this topic so many times. But there are just so many possibilities and interpretations... I am very close to working out the rule. But please check my understanding again...

1. I have eaten smoked chicken claws since I lived in China.
2. I have eaten smoked chicken claws since l left China.
3. I haven't eaten smoked chicken claws since I lived in China.

For #1, I think we can say it in the following context:
1. A asks B: "Have you eaten smoked chicken claws during your stay in China last month?"
Then B can respond: "Yes. I have eaten smoked chicken claws since I lived in China."
Or B can respond: "No. I have eaten smoked chicken claws since I lived in China."

I think #1 can have two interpretations:
1) Assuming I spent 20 days in China. I may have begun to eat smoked chicken claws on day 2. And I have eaten them from then up until now.
Day1.....Day2(ate)....Day3.......(ate).................Day20(I left China).......(ate).......Now(still eat)
2)It can also mean "I didn't start to eat smoked chicken claws until I left China". In this case, it is identical to "I have eaten smoked chicken claws since l left China".
Day1.............................(not ate).......................Day20(I left China).......(ate).......Now(still eat)

For #3, I think it can be said in the following context:
C: Hi. Glad to see you return from your 20 day vacation in China. How long is it since you last ate smoked chicken claws?
D: I haven't eaten smoked chicken claws since I lived in China.
C: You didn't answer my question. How long is it on earth?
D1: Well, in case you are wondering, I haven't eaten smoked chicken claws since I left China.
D2: Well , in case you are wondering, I haven't eaten smoked chicken claws since the fourth day I spent in China.

I think in this context, for some reason, D tried to be evasive. He didn't give C a definite time span of not having smoked chicken claws by #3.

Or this context makes more sense:
C: Let's go to eat smoked chicken claws in that Chinese restaurant! You like them!But you haven't eaten them for a while, have you?
D: No, I haven't eaten smoked chicken claws since I lived in China. Let's go for some!

I think by this sentence, I am not establishing a start point of "haven't eaten...". I have just conveyed the only message that I haven't eat them for a period of time. It's because as is shown in this dialogue, no one cares about the concrete time span of your not eating smoked chicken claws. "Since I lived in China" leaves the timing of the repast completely uncertain -- it could have been at any time during your residence there. I might mean "I haven't eaten smoked chicken claws during my residence in China". Or it can mean "I haven't eaten smoked chicken claws since I left China". But, who cares?

Please tell me if my understanding is correct and if my dialogues make sense?
Thank you in advance.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Comments:
1. Nobody eats chicken claws.
2. "Stay" and "live" are two different verbs. I think you are confusing them. We used them differently.

1. A asks B: "Did you eat smoked chicken feet during your stay in China last month?" (The present perfect is not correct. You are asking about a particular event or events that happened in the past. )
Then B can respond: "Yes. I ate smoked chicken feet at least once a week during my trip. My friend told me that this is a real treat and it is a dish that is very difficult to find outside of China."

2.
A: Have you eaten chicken feet since you returned from China?
B: Yes. I found a fantastic Dim Sum restaurant that has a Chinese chef who knows how to make them. They are only available on Sundays. I have gone there every Sunday since I returned.
B: No. I have not been able to find any place that serves them.

C: Hi. I am glad to see you have returned from your 20-day vacation in China. How long has it been since you last ate smoked chicken feet? (That seems like a very strange question. I would expect that a following question would be: "Did you eat any chicken feet on your trip?")

D: I haven't eaten smoked chicken feet since I lived in China. (The answer is No. D ate chicken feet when he lived in China, but he did not eat any on his recent trip.)

C: You didn't answer my question. How long is it on earth? (That makes no sense. Are you asking when people first began to eat chicken feet?)

D1: Well, in case you are wondering, I haven't eaten smoked chicken feet since I left China.
D2: Well , in case you are wondering, I haven't eaten smoked chicken feet since the fourth day I after I arrived in China.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

AlpheccaStarsComments:1. Nobody eats chicken claws.2. "Stay" and "live" are two different verbs. I think you are confusing them. We used them differently.1. A asks B: "Did you eat smoked chicken feet during your stay in China last month?" (The present perfect is not correct. You are asking about a particular event or events that happened in the past. )Then B can respond: "Yes. I ate smoked chicken feet at least once a week during my trip. My friend told me that this is a real treat and it is a dish that is very difficult to find outside of China."

Thank you so much! That's an excellent explanation! But please allow me to ask some more questions?
1. Does "I have eaten smoked chicken feet since I lived in China" make sense?
2. If the sentence makes sense, then please check my revised understanding of the sentence?
1) Assuming I lived in China for 180 days. I may have begun to eat smoked chicken feet on day 2. And I have eaten them from then up until now.
Day1.....Day2(ate)....Day3.......(ate).................Day180(I left China).......(ate).......Now(still eat)
2)It can also mean "I didn't start to eat smoked chicken feet until I left China". In this case, it is identical to "I have eaten smoked chicken feet since l left China".
Day1.............................(not ate).......................Day180(I left China).......(ate).......Now(still eat)
3. If I force B to respond: "Yes/No. I have eaten smoked chicken feet since I lived in China", then how is A supposed to ask the question?

I am very close to working out the rule. But please check first...

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions