Past simple Vs present perfect

Question

Please my dear friends I wanna help with this sentence:

They started building this bridge two years ago. (have)

can it be : They have started building this bridge for two year.

If not, why?

Thank you for the efforts

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

heartvampirePlease my dear friends I wanna would like some help with this sentence

heartvampireThey started building this bridge two years ago. (have)

The sentence is OK, but why did you end with "(have)"?

heartvampireThey have started building this bridge for two years.

No. You can't start something for a period of time. Starting only take a brief moment. It's like saying you were startled by a loud noise for two years. It doesn't make sense.

Leave out "for two years" and it will be OK.

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

They have been building the bridge for two years.

Heartvampire · Answer

thank you, can you please answer this :

A- Did you enjoy the open-air concert yesterday?
B- The music was good, but the weather was terrible.
The concert...................(just/start) when suddenly, it began to rain. The musicians................ (only/play) for ten minutes.

CalifJim · Answer

heartvampireThe concert...................(just/start) when suddenly, it began to rain. The musicians................ (only/play) for ten minutes.

Give it a try yourself first. The concert started first, then it began to rain. That's two events in the past, and one happened before the other. What tense do you need to express that time relationship?

In the second part you have "for ten minutes" and "play", a verb that indicates activity. What kind of tense do you need to express activity throughout a period of time?

CJ

Heartvampire · Answer

had just started

had only been playing

CalifJim · Answer

heartvampirehad just started had only been playing

Correct. You see? You didn't even need to post the question. You already knew the answer.

CJ

Past simple Vs present perfect

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions