Present Perfect and LAST

Question

Here it is the questionIt is ok to use "LAST" with PAST SIMPLEI saw him last week. I was there last year.And it is not ok to use "LAST" with PRESENT PERFECTI have seen him last week______________________________________________This is what many grammar books say as follows(Thus: in stead of, " I have seen him last week" say, " I saw him last week;" and in stead of, " I saw him this week" say, "I have seen him this week.")However, I have noticed that LAST can be also used with Present Perfect sometimesI have been busy the last tree months. I have been there the last fifteen years I can conclude that - THE LAST means Lately here Is it so? ++++++++++++++That big steamer which has been lying there the last week. - What does the last week mean here?Is it the same likeThat big steamer which has been lying there this week.

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

TicceThis is what many grammar books say as follows

(Thus: in stead of, " I have seen him last week" say, " I saw him last week;" and in stead of, " I saw him this week" say, "I have seen him this week.")

I would agree with the first of these guidelines. The second is debatable. Both "I saw him this week" and "I've seen him this week" are used.

By the way, "instead" is one word.

TicceI have been busy the last tree months.
I have been there the last fifteen years

I can conclude that - THE LAST means Lately here

Is it so?

This is a distinct idiom. These mean:

"I have been busy for/over the last three months."
"I have been there for/over the last fifteen years."

The sense is that this state or activity has been continuing through the past up until the present, so the present perfect is appropriate.

TicceThat big steamer which has been lying there the last week. - What does the last week mean here?

Same as before. It means:

"That big steamer which has been lying there for/over the last week..."

Ticce · Answer

You have partly answered the question but not in full. Anyway, thanks.
I am interested in

LAST vs THE LAST

Is this sentence correct?

I have been there the last year.

It seems to me that if we use THE LAST it can only be used with PRESENT PERFECT. Because it wouldn't be correct to say

I was there the last year. (Or is it ok?)

Ticce · Answer

Let me summarize

If I want to say it in PRESENT PERFECT I should say

I have lived here the last 5 years.

If I lived there and don't live there any more I should say it in PAST SIMPLE

I lived there last 5 years.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
SO

LAST is used with PAST SIMPLE
THE LAST is used with PRESENT PERFECT

Mr Wordy · Answer

TicceIs this sentence correct?

I have been there the last year.

Yes, it's possible. It refers to the year leading up to the present. However, it would probably be more usual to say "I have been there for the last year" (same meaning).

TicceI was there the last year. (Or is it ok?)

This is also possible, but "the last year" does not now mean the year leading up to the present. Instead, it means the last year of a time period that ended some time in the past. Again, "I was there for the last year seems more usual. Example: "The factory closed in 2001; I was there for the last year." (that is, the year 2000-2001).

Mr Wordy · Answer

TicceLet me summarize

If I want to say it in PRESENT PERFECT I should say

I have lived here the last 5 years.

If I lived there and don't live there any more I should say it in PAST SIMPLE

I lived there last 5 years.
++
SO

LAST is used with PAST SIMPLE
THE LAST is used with PRESENT PERFECT

1. "I have lived there (for) the last 5 years" = five years leading up to the present.

2 "I lived there (for) the last 5 years" = the last five years of some time period ending in the past.

In both #1 and #2 it is usual (though not mandatory) to include the word "for".

3 "I have lived there (for) last 5 years" = ungrammatical.

4. "I lived there (for) last 5 years" = ungrammatical.

Ticce · Answer

Thanks it has become more clear now.
Still

Mr Wordy"I lived there (for) last 5 years" = ungrammatical.

Why is it correct to say then -----

I lived there last year.

Ticce · Answer

Thanks it has become more clear now.
Still

Mr Wordy"I lived there (for) last 5 years" = ungrammatical.

Why is it correct to say then -----

I lived there last year.

Mr Wordy · Answer

TicceWhy is it correct to say then -----

I lived there last year.

This has a different meaning again. Let's say it's now July 2010.

1. "I have lived there for the last year" = I've lived there since July 2009 (more or less).

2. "I lived there for the last year" = I lived there for the last year of some time period that ended in the past.

3. "I lived there last year" = I lived there for some or all of 2009 (but probably not into 2010, and probably I don't live there now).

#1 and #2 allow a number of years to be specified ("for the last x years"), as we've seen. #3 does not: it wouldn't make sense. There is only one "last year" in the sense of #3.

Ticce · Answer

Mr Wordy "I have lived there for the last year" = I've lived there since July 2009 (more or less).

You mean 365 days before the day when it is said. Then we could also say

I have lived there in the last year.

Mr Wordy"I lived there last year" = I lived there for some or all of 2009 (but probably not into 2010, and probably I don't live there now).

It means a calendar year. Right?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

PS "That big steamer which has been lying there for/over the last week..." Does the last week mean this week. I am confused here
1) There can be the last which is over
2) And the last which is still in progress

Mr Wordy · Answer

TicceYou mean 365 days before the day when it is said. Then we could also say

I have lived there in the last year.

No, this doesn't mean the same thing. "I have lived there in the last year" means that I lived there for some part of the last year, but probably I don't live there now.

(Remember also, of course, that in cases like this "year" can be used approximately, so it probably doesn't mean exactly 365 days.)

TicceIt means a calendar year. Right?

In this case, yes, normally.

TiccePS "That big steamer which has been lying there for/over the last week..." Does the last week mean this week.

It may simply refer to the past seven days, irrespective of which day of the week it is now. However, there is some flexibility. For example, in work environment where weekends are free, "the last week", when said on a Friday, would probably refer just to Monday to Friday. In any case, "week" can be used approximately, and one or two days' leeway may be allowed.

Present Perfect and LAST

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