Present perfect

Question

Hi,ex1) It has been four years since he visited New York City.Q1) This means that he visited New York City four years ago, and four yeas have passed since that time.  Correct?ex2) It has been four years since he has visited New York City.reading 1: He has visited New York City only once up until now(=He's been to New York City only once).  The time when he visited New York City was four years ago, and four years have passed since that time.reading 2: He has visited New York City more than once(=twice or more) up until now.  The last time he visited New York City was four years ago, and four years have passed since that time.  Q2) Are both these readings acceptable? Or only one of them is correct?I'd appreciate your help.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

jooneyex1) It has been four years since he visited New York City.

Q1) This means that he visited New York City four years ago, and four yeas have passed since that time. Correct?

Yes.

jooneyex2) It has been four years since he has visited New York City.

reading 1: He has visited New York City only once up until now(=He's been to New York City only once). The time when he visited New York City was four years ago, and four years have passed since that time.

reading 2: He has visited New York City more than once(=twice or more) up until now. The last time he visited New York City was four years ago, and four years have passed since that time.

Q2) Are both these readings acceptable? Or only one of them is correct?

The number of visits is immaterial, so both readings are possible and acceptable. You can combine them by paraphrasing as: He has visited New York City at least once up until now. Four years have passed since the last time he visited New York City.

CJ

Jooney · Answer

Thank you for your reply, CJ.

I have more questions.

ex1) He has lived in New York City since he has been in college.

Q1) This means that the time of his living in New York City overlaps the time of his going to college. Correct?

ex2) It has been three years since he has been in college.

Q2) Does this sentence make sense? If so, what is the meaning of the sentence? Does this mean that he started his college education three years ago and he is still in college?

I'd appreciate your help one more time.

CalifJim · Answer

jooneyex1) He has lived in New York City since he has been in college.Q1) This means that the time of his living in New York City overlaps the time of his going to college. Correct?

Yes. I would take it to mean that he went to NYC to go to a college there, and he has not moved from there up until now.

An alternate interpretation is that he lived in NYC for some period of time after the period of time he was in college, even if he went to college elsewhere.

jooneyex2) It has been three years since he has been in college.Q2) Does this sentence make sense? If so, what is the meaning of the sentence? Does this mean that he started his college education three years ago and he is still in college?

It makes sense, yes, but I don't take it as you do. I take it to mean that three years have passed since the time he stopped going to college. For the meaning you are taking from it we would have

He has been in college for three years. / It has been three years since he started college, and he is still there.

CJ

Jooney · Answer

Thank you for your answer, CJ.

ex1) He has lived in New York City since he has been in college.

An alternate interpretation is that he lived in NYC for some period of time after the period of time he was in college, even if he went to college elsewhere.

Q1) So this second reading is experiential perfect, meaning that you have had experience of living in New York City, but you don't live there as of now. Correct?

Q2) How should I interpret the underlined part in "after the period of time he was in college"? It seems that it refers to only a subset of the time of his going to college.

Q3) Can you use the past tense instead in the complement of since without altering the meaning(please note all my questions are confined to the alternate reading you presented)?

ex) He has lived in New York City since he was in college.
_______________________

ex2) It has been three years since he has been in college.

I take it to mean that three years have passed since the time he stopped going to college.

Q4) So it implies that he didn't graduate from college/he dropped out of school. Correct?

CalifJim · Answer

jooneyQ1) So this second reading is experiential perfect, meaning that you have had experience of living in New York City, but you don't live there as of now. Correct?

Yes.

jooneyQ2) How should I interpret the underlined part in "after the period of time he was in college"? It seems that it refers to only a subset of the time of his going to college.

No. I didn't intend to indicate a subset of time.

He was in college (anywhere). Then he was not in college. Then he lived in NYC (had the experience of living in NYC) (at least once).

jooneyQ3) Can you use the past tense instead in the complement of since without altering the meaning(please note all my questions are confined to the alternate reading you presented)?ex) He has lived in New York City since he was in college.

Yes. The past tense also works for that meaning.

jooneyex2) It has been three years since he has been in college. I take it to mean that three years have passed since the time he stopped going to college. Q4) So it implies that he didn't graduate from college/he dropped out of school. Correct?

No. The reason for stopping going to college is immaterial. He may have graduated or he may have dropped out.

CJ

Jooney · Answer

I see.  Thank you very much for your help, CJ.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Present perfect

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