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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Present perfect

I have a question about the present perfect.

I know that the present perfect can't be used with a specific point in time. However, is the use of the present perfect with the word 'since' an exception?

For example:
I haven't seen her since two years.
He has been here since the morning.
  

Top answer

Anonymous However, is the use of the present perfect with the word 'since' an exception? Anonymous I know that the present perfect can't be used with a specific point in time. However, is the use of the present perfect with the word 'since' an exception?

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous However, is the use of the present perfect with the word 'since' an exception?
  • Anonymous I know that the present perfect can't be used with a specific point in time.
  • However, is the use of the present perfect with the word 'since' an exception?
  • The specific point of time follows 'since'; it is the starting point of a present perfect action, not the time of the action itself.
  • Anyway, your first sentence is wrong: it does not show a point in time.
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8 Answers
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AnonymousHowever, is the use of the present perfect with the word 'since' an exception?
AnonymousI know that the present perfect can't be used with a specific point in time. However, is the use of the present perfect with the word 'since' an exception?
The specific point of time follows 'since'; it is the starting point of
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Mister Micawber AnonymousHowever, is the use of the present perfect with the word 'since' an exception?AnonymousI know that the present perfect can't be used with a specific point in time. However, is the use of the present perfect with the word 'since' an exception?The specific point of time follows 'since'; it is the starting point of a present perfect action, not the t
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Anonymoust doesn't that include the specific point it started?
No. The action continued past that point.
AnonymousAnd does that mean that 'since' is an exception in that matter with the present perfect?
No.
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Mister MicawberNo. The action continued past that point.
Thanks MM. I know that the action continued past that point but 'since' can show a precise moment in time such as the examples above. But I don't get what you are trying to convey.

The word 'since' shows the duration of an event and can show the specific point that the event occurred e.g since
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AnonymousThey mean from a point in the past until now!
Right; that is the domain of present perfect.
AnonymousCould you please clarify by demonstrating what they mean with the present perfect?
Your English seems advanced enough for you to understand present perfect with 'since'. If not, you can start reading about it here:
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Mister Micawberight; that is the domain of present perfect.
Thanks. So it does state a specific point in the past but the emphasis is on the duration, maybe, and is that why you said it does not show a specific point in the past?

Isn't the use of 'since' kind of unique with the present perfect?
Mister MicawberYour English seems
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AnonymousIt would not be possible if 'in' were used instead of 'since', right?
Right.
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Mister Micawber AnonymousIt would not be possible if 'in' were used instead of 'since', right?Right.
Thanks. So is the idea that I have in mind that the present perfect with since could show that the action occured at a specific time in the past and that continues on till now, which is the specific point o action of the preaent perfect with its duration, of co
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