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Pieanne Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
It's a long time...
Hello, all!
I'm not too sure about what's right here:
1. "It's been a long time since we met"
2. "It's a long time since we met"
I think both are right, but I don't know why 2. is right. Could someone please explain?
Both can be rewritten as:
3. "We haven't met for a long time", is that right? (long time no see...)
And: can it also work with
4. "It's months since we met"
5. "It's 2 years since we (last?) met"
Thanks in advance.
I'm not too sure about what's right here:
1. "It's been a long time since we met"
2. "It's a long time since we met"
I think both are right, but I don't know why 2. is right. Could someone please explain?
Both can be rewritten as:
3. "We haven't met for a long time", is that right? (long time no see...)
And: can it also work with
4. "It's months since we met"
5. "It's 2 years since we (last?) met"
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
Right and wrong... who can say. Conversationally, I would probably say "It's been ages..
- Right and wrong...
- who can say.
- Conversationally, I would probably say "It's been ages..
- " 4 sounds OK 5 sounds like it's become a bit of an issue, and youv'e been ticking off the days on the calender.
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22 Answers
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Right and wrong... who can say.
Conversationally, I would probably say "It's been ages.. "
4 sounds OK
5 sounds like it's become a bit of an issue, and youv'e been ticking off the days on the calender.
Conversationally, I would probably say "It's been ages.. "
4 sounds OK
5 sounds like it's become a bit of an issue, and youv'e been ticking off the days on the calender.
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Hello Pieanne
I also once queried this issue here. I tried to look for the archive using 'Search in Forum' but in vain. I think it's not so bad to repeat the same discussion with you and moderators.
First of all, I'd like to present you the result of a tentative google survey.
(1) "It is/It's a long time since I have/I've seen you" 199 [UK 46]
(2) "It is/
I also once queried this issue here. I tried to look for the archive using 'Search in Forum' but in vain. I think it's not so bad to repeat the same discussion with you and moderators.
First of all, I'd like to present you the result of a tentative google survey.
(1) "It is/It's a long time since I have/I've seen you" 199 [UK 46]
(2) "It is/
00
Maybe it's works because one end of the 'long time' is pinned to the present.
With 'it's a long time', the speaker holds one end of a piece of string that stretches back to point Z ('when we last met') and looks down the string.
With 'it's been a long time', the speaker stands to one side of the piece of string and views the whole sweep from A to Z.
That may
With 'it's a long time', the speaker holds one end of a piece of string that stretches back to point Z ('when we last met') and looks down the string.
With 'it's been a long time', the speaker stands to one side of the piece of string and views the whole sweep from A to Z.
That may
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Thanks, Paco and MrP.
I'm aware there are other "lighter" ways of expressing it, but I was wondering about THAT structure.
Funny that
I'll have to practise...
I'm aware there are other "lighter" ways of expressing it, but I was wondering about THAT structure.
Funny that
(3) "It has/It's been a long time since I have/I've seen you" 2871 [UK 141]seems to be the most used; a present perfect after "since" sounds weird to me...
I'll have to practise...
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Pieanne
You are right. I too feel it's somehow odd to use 'since I have seen you'. If 'since' is a word to be used to anchor a past event, I feel it must be 'since I saw you'. As an interpretation for the prevalent use of 'since I have seen you', it would be possible to suppose that people might mean 'I saw you habitually in the days before the last meeting' (=I had seen you a lot befor
You are right. I too feel it's somehow odd to use 'since I have seen you'. If 'since' is a word to be used to anchor a past event, I feel it must be 'since I saw you'. As an interpretation for the prevalent use of 'since I have seen you', it would be possible to suppose that people might mean 'I saw you habitually in the days before the last meeting' (=I had seen you a lot befor
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Hi, Paco!
Anyway, as "it's been/is a long time since I saw you" is also correct, though less fashionable it seems, I think I'll go on using it!
Anyway, as "it's been/is a long time since I saw you" is also correct, though less fashionable it seems, I think I'll go on using it!
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'since I have seen you'
I'm baffled by that google...It sounds an odd formation to me. I'd say 'since I saw you' every time.
But the websites it brings up aren't particularly distinguished. Native speakers do tend to get their tenses in a twist.
MrP
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Thanks for your comfort, MrP...
Can you tell me with a "yes" or "no", are both of the following correct?
1. it's a long time since I saw you.
2. it's been a long time since I saw you.
Can you tell me with a "yes" or "no", are both of the following correct?
1. it's a long time since I saw you.
2. it's been a long time since I saw you.
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Mr P
Thank you for the reply. But actually an American English teacher is insisting in a Japanese dominant English learning site that it must be "since+PRES.PERFECT", not "since+PAST". I feel the time is coming we have to call British English and American English differently(Brenglish and Amenglish?)
paco
Thank you for the reply. But actually an American English teacher is insisting in a Japanese dominant English learning site that it must be "since+PRES.PERFECT", not "since+PAST". I feel the time is coming we have to call British English and American English differently(Brenglish and Amenglish?)
paco
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