now

Question

Hello,1. I have done it once a day for five years now.2.I have done it once a day for five years.What is difference between two sentence as per meaning?Does "now" in the sentence (1) has any special meaning? Is  the sentence (2) convey same meaning?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

1. I have done it once a day for five years now. This suggests to me that the 5 year period is up to now. Because of the emphasis on the duration/repetition, it might be better to say I have been doing it once a day for five years now.

2.I have done it once a day for five years. This does not make it completely clear that the five year period is up until now. Perhaps I stopped doing it last week, although in that case, I might make that clear by simply saying I did it once a day for five years.

Best wishes, Clive

Hanuman_2000 · Answer

Hello Clive,

1, I have lived in Japan for five years.

Does it mean I am still in Japan? or should I say (2) if I am still there?

2. I have lived in Japan for five years now.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Much depends on the context. Where are you when you say this? In Japan or in Brazil?

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

The addition of "now" in such a pattern suggests (to me) "at this point in a potential series of events which may possibly continue". So, to my ear, there is the suggestion that the five years will grow into six years, and then seven, and so on. The tense actually need not even be present in this use of "now":

The troops had trained for years, and they were now ready for war.

There is a hint of some emotion conveyed by the addition of "now", perhaps pride
I've done it once a day for five years now (and that is quite an accomplishment).

perhaps shame
I've done it once a day for five years now (and try as I may, I cannot break myself of the habit).

but in any case the main idea seems to me to be the focusing on "now" as only a single moment in a series which, by subtle implication, is to continue.

CJ

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