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Johnson13 Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
in the past
As usual, before starting a thread I've searched the forum with the phrase 'in the past + a time', but since I have my own examples I choose to start a thread.
If I say anything wrong, please do correct me.
When we use the construction 'in the past + a time', the usual and reasonable way is to use the perfect aspect:
eg Life expectancy for both men and women has improved greatly in the past 20 years.
But I've heard an American, when commenting on the former Chinese Premier, say 'achievements in the past five years did not come easy'
Must DID NOT change to HAVE NOT? (This is a general description of the economic achievement, different from the one below, in which notionally I was referring to, perhaps, particular instances in the past)
At this point, I come up with another case. My reply to a teacher the other day: In the past several days I did not bring money to the college restaurant but the staff still gave me the food.
When I gave the reply, the use of the past tense just came natural to me; but on second thought I think the present perfect tense should have been used, am I right?
If I say anything wrong, please do correct me.
When we use the construction 'in the past + a time', the usual and reasonable way is to use the perfect aspect:
eg Life expectancy for both men and women has improved greatly in the past 20 years.
But I've heard an American, when commenting on the former Chinese Premier, say 'achievements in the past five years did not come easy'
Must DID NOT change to HAVE NOT? (This is a general description of the economic achievement, different from the one below, in which notionally I was referring to, perhaps, particular instances in the past)
At this point, I come up with another case. My reply to a teacher the other day: In the past several days I did not bring money to the college restaurant but the staff still gave me the food.
When I gave the reply, the use of the past tense just came natural to me; but on second thought I think the present perfect tense should have been used, am I right?
Top answer
Johnson13 Must DID NOT change to HAVE NOT? No. AmE often uses simple past (at least informally) for recent occurrences, with or without the time reference.
- Johnson13 Must DID NOT change to HAVE NOT?
- No.
- AmE often uses simple past (at least informally) for recent occurrences, with or without the time reference.
- When I gave the reply, the use of the past tense just came natural to me; but on second thought I think the present perfect tense should have been used, am I right?
- As above.
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1 Answers
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Johnson13Must DID NOT change to HAVE NOT?No. AmE often uses simple past (at least informally) for recent occurrences, with or without the time reference.
Johnson13 In the past several days I did not bring money to the college restaurant but the staff still gave me the food.When I gave the reply, the use of the past tense just came natu
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