0
Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Present perfect
Which ones are correct (I have been told that the present perfect can be used for actions that have just ended. Can it be used in this situation?):
John retired two weeks ago. He is feeling happy now. He has been working in that hole for years.
John retired two weeks ago. He is feeling happy now. He has worked in that hole for years.
John retired two weeks ago. He is feeling happy now. He had been working in that hole for years.
John retired two weeks ago. He is feeling happy now. He had worked in that hole for years.
John retired two weeks ago. He is feeling happy now. He has been working in that hole for years.
John retired two weeks ago. He is feeling happy now. He has worked in that hole for years.
John retired two weeks ago. He is feeling happy now. He had been working in that hole for years.
John retired two weeks ago. He is feeling happy now. He had worked in that hole for years.
Top answer
None of them raises a red flag for me. I could accept any of them. However, my preference would be for the third: had been working, which isn't present perfect.
- None of them raises a red flag for me.
- I could accept any of them.
- However, my preference would be for the third: had been working, which isn't present perfect.
- Maybe "just" in "just ended" doesn't extend as far as two weeks!
- I think what you've been told was referring to actions much more recently ended.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
None of them raises a red flag for me. 
I could accept any of them.
However, my preference would be for the third: had
I could accept any of them.
However, my preference would be for the third: had
00
The first two sentences don't make much sense to me. Either he "has been working" or he "retired two weeks ago".
The use of the present perfect/present perfect progressive, in the particular case of your sentence, would contradict the fact that he retired "two weeks ago".
"Had worked" (this is the one I prefer) and "had been working" are ok.
Miriam
The use of the present perfect/present perfect progressive, in the particular case of your sentence, would contradict the fact that he retired "two weeks ago".
"Had worked" (this is the one I prefer) and "had been working" are ok.
Miriam
0
Related Questions