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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Is this conversation correct

Rio: Jack says he has been living in this apartment for three years.
Alex: He must be lying; he must have been living in the apartment for more than ten years. (I have strong evidence)
Is this conversation correct with 'must have been'?
Please help. Thanks a lot.
  

Top answer

Anonymous Is this conversation correct with 'must have been'? Yes. Alex's part is paraphrased below.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous Is this conversation correct with 'must have been'?
  • Yes.
  • Alex's part is paraphrased below.
  • The only reasonable conclusion is that he is lying .
  • (present; must ) The only reasonable conclusion is that he was living (lived) in that apartment for more than ten years.
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9 Answers
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AnonymousIs this conversation correct with 'must have been'?
Yes. Alex's part is paraphrased below.

The only reasonable conclusion is that he is lying. (present; must)
The only reasonable conclusion is that he was living (lived) in that apartment for more than ten years. (past; must have)

CJ
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It means he is no longer living in the apartment, right, CJ? Thanks a lot for your help.
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AnonymousIt means he is no longer living in the apartment, right, CJ?
No. That sentence gives us no information about whether he is living there now or not. However, the question that Rio asks implies to some extent that he is still living there.

CJ
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But here,
Jack: Where have you been?
Alex: I have been taking a shower.
Jack: No, you are lying; you must have been in the kitchen.(I have strong evidence)

Here it means he is no longer in the kitchen, right?
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Anonymousyou must have been in the kitchen. ... Here it means he is no longer in the kitchen, right?
No. You are getting confused, because this has nothing to do with where people are. It's about logic.

You must have been in the kitchen (at the time you were supposedly taking a shower).
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The only reasonable conclusion is that you were in th
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I completely understood but I have one more conversation to show you.
Jack: what have you been doing?
Alex: I have been playing football. I am tired.
Here, Alex is no longer playing football, right?
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Anonymous I completely understood but I have one more conversation to show you.Jack: what have you been doing?Alex: I have been playing football. I am tired.Here, Alex is no longer playing football, right?
I would guess that Alex has just finished playing football and that he is no longer playing football, just as you say.

CJ
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Where have you been?

Does it mean he has already come back? or still somewhere?

Thanks in advance
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sandy01Does it mean he has already come back? or still somewhere?
If you are talking to him in person, there's only one possibility. You wouldn't say "Where have you been?" to an empty room, would you?

If you are talking to him on the phone, he is obviously somewhere else.

CJ
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