I finished my studies and then I've become an English teacher

Question

Hello.1. If I want to say that I finished my studies and then I started working as an English teacher, and I still do the same job, can I use a sentence:"I finished my studies and then I've become an English teacher"?I have a doubt because of the two tenses, i.e. Past Simple and Present Perfect. used in one sentence. Can I do it only if I have independent clauses in one sentence?2. I have also found that sentence in the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary:"She's been very busy at work and then there was all that trouble with her son";shouldn't it go like "She had been...", not "She has been", as the past tense is mentioned?Best regards

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI have a doubt because of the two tenses, i.e. Past Simple and Present Perfect. used in one sentence.

You are right to be doubtful. You need the same tense in both clauses here, and the present perfect is related to the present, so "then", indicating a sequence of events, is not appropriate with this tense.

I finished my studies, and then I became an English teacher.

I've finished my studies and I've become an English teacher.

_______________

AnonymousShe's been very busy at work and then there was all that trouble with her son

It is somewhat unusual to see this sequence of tenses. In this case the word then cannot be taken as an indicator of a sequence of events. It has to be taken as "besides", that is, as an indicator that the speaker wants to add more information to what he has already said. It's like two separate reasons for "her" behavior:

She's been very busy at work. And besides that, there was all that trouble with her son.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Anonymous1. If I want to say that I finished my studies and then I started working as an English teacher, and I still do the same job, can I use a sentence:
"I finished my studies and then I've become an English teacher"?

The simple past is better:

I finished my studies and then I became an English teacher."

Anonymous"She's been very busy at work and then there was all that trouble with her son."

It is OK.

If you use the past perfect (she had been busy at work), then that implies that the activity "busy at work" was completed before the trouble with her son.

In the present perfect, the relationship between the two activities in time is less definite. The troubles with her son could have been before or during the time she was "busy at work."

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your answers!

1. What's the best way, in your opinion, to convey the meaning that I finished my studies in 2009 and then I started working as an English teacher, and I still do the same job? Can I say it in a concise way?

2. Is there a rule that you can't use Present Perfect and Past Simple in one sentence? If there is, what about the sentences like "What was the best film you have ever seen?", or "Think of a film you have seen recently, what was it called?"

Kind Regards

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI finished my studies in 2009 and then I started working as an English teacher, and I still do the same job? Can I say it in a concise way?

Ah! I see what you're getting at.

I finished my studies in 2009, and since then I've been working as an English teacher.

__________________

AnonymousIs there a rule that you can't use Present Perfect and Past Simple in one sentence?

No. I just did it above.

AnonymousWhat was the best film you have ever seen?

Fine.

What is the best film you have ever seen? Also fine.

AnonymousThink of a film you have seen recently, what was it called?

You have a 'comma splice' here, which is considered a mistake. It's really two sentences and should be shown that way.

Think of a film you have seen recently. What was it called?

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

You're really great help!

I was also wondering if the sentences of that kind are ok: "I've never met a person that was kinder than you", or "I've never met a person that was so eager to help others"; it's for the reason that they include Past Simple and Present Perfect in one sentence. But if you say that there isn't such a rule that would forbid to have PS and PP together, I suppose they're ok.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AnonymousI've never met a person that was kinder than you.

The present perfect gives emphasis on events up to the immediate present. If you mean a specific kind act of kindness completed in the past, then the past works OK.

But if you mean the general character of the person, then use the present. The person is still living, and has not changed their character!

I've never met a person who is kinder than you.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous"I've never met a person that was kinder than you", or "I've never met a person that was so eager to help others"; ... I suppose they're ok.

They seem OK to me.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

I feel I'm making progress in English thanks to you <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/> Cheers!

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AnonymousI feel I'm making progress in English thanks to you Cheers!

If you keep asking questions, you will make rapid pregress!

I finished my studies and then I've become an English teacher

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