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Pdxlinda Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
I need to understand, please.
I have been struggling with a sentence the smartest woman I know has used. When I asked her about it because I was confused, her answer was to "check it out". I have. I'm still confused. The sentence is "You, on the other hand, have had much value in my life".
I'm confused about the "have had" part. While she says she doesn't believe it means past and finished but it also has a meaning of continuance. She believes its called a "perfect indicative".
I am not a grammarian. I have spent hours trying to understand a "perfect indicative" both on the Web and the Library.
To me, "have had" only means past and finished.
Can anyone help me understand this "perfect indicative" if it is is one? And how can "have had" also have a meaning of continuance?
Thank you for any help you might be willing to give.
I'm confused about the "have had" part. While she says she doesn't believe it means past and finished but it also has a meaning of continuance. She believes its called a "perfect indicative".
I am not a grammarian. I have spent hours trying to understand a "perfect indicative" both on the Web and the Library.
To me, "have had" only means past and finished.
Can anyone help me understand this "perfect indicative" if it is is one? And how can "have had" also have a meaning of continuance?
Thank you for any help you might be willing to give.
Top answer
"You, on the other hand, have had much value in my life". Actually, it is not a very good sentence as far as expressing anything clearly. The verb form, ' have had ' is the present perfect tense (indicative mood, active voice-- but you don't need these terms at the moment).
- "You, on the other hand, have had much value in my life".
- Actually, it is not a very good sentence as far as expressing anything clearly.
- The verb form, ' have had ' is the present perfect tense (indicative mood, active voice-- but you don't need these terms at the moment).
- '-- I came 15 years ago, I live here now, I will likely continue to live here at least until tomorrow.
- '-- I didn't eat them in the unspecified past, I am not eating them now, and I may or may not eat them at the next restaurant I go to.
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5 Answers
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"You, on the other hand, have had much value in my life".
Actually, it is not a very good sentence as far as expressing anything clearly. The verb form, 'have had' is the present perfect tense (indicative mood, active voice-- but you don't need these terms at the moment).
PRESENT perfect indicates some process or condition which began at some (often unspecified) tim
Actually, it is not a very good sentence as far as expressing anything clearly. The verb form, 'have had' is the present perfect tense (indicative mood, active voice-- but you don't need these terms at the moment).
PRESENT perfect indicates some process or condition which began at some (often unspecified) tim
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Dear Mr. Micawber,
Thank you for answering my question. It helped a lot. I was waiting to see if California Jim might respond as you mentioned in your post. He didn't, so I am taking this time now to thank you for your help. It did help in clearing things up and now I can use my sentence as it was meant to be used. Again, thank you.
Thank you for answering my question. It helped a lot. I was waiting to see if California Jim might respond as you mentioned in your post. He didn't, so I am taking this time now to thank you for your help. It did help in clearing things up and now I can use my sentence as it was meant to be used. Again, thank you.
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He must have thought my answer was OK, then. I hope you find answers to more of your questions here at English Forums in the future, Pdx.
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Mr. M.
I always think your answers are OK! I do have a tiny objection to point out, however:
You used "past perfect" when you meant "present perfect" at one point!
I always think your answers are OK! I do have a tiny objection to point out, however:
You used "past perfect" when you meant "present perfect" at one point!
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