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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Present perfect tense: different contextual meaning possible?
Hi. I happen to think the following phrase "have worked at the XXX Company" can have a different contextual meaning in a sentence, depending on whether you attach the time phrases that denote a duration like "for the past three years" and how the phrase "have worked at the XXX Company" is used in a sentence (I am not sure I have written correctly to reflect what I wanted to say, though). Let us assume that the alphabet letters "XXX" represent part of a made-up company name.
I have worked at the XXX Company and I liked it there. -- I think this means that he worked there some time before writing this sentence and we don't know from the sentence how long he has worked there. It does seem to say that he doesn't work there any more.
I have worked at the XXX Company for the past three years and I like it there. -- To me, this seems to say that he has worked for the past three years, upto the present time (upto the present moment??), and seems to indicate that he likes working there currently.
I have worked at the XXX Company for the past three years and I liked it there. -- I think this says that he has worked for the past three years, upto the recent moment, but it is probable (likely) that he does work there at the moment of writing the sentence, and says that he liked his experience there.
I have worked at the XXX Company and I liked it there. -- I think this means that he worked there some time before writing this sentence and we don't know from the sentence how long he has worked there. It does seem to say that he doesn't work there any more.
I have worked at the XXX Company for the past three years and I like it there. -- To me, this seems to say that he has worked for the past three years, upto the present time (upto the present moment??), and seems to indicate that he likes working there currently.
I have worked at the XXX Company for the past three years and I liked it there. -- I think this says that he has worked for the past three years, upto the recent moment, but it is probable (likely) that he does work there at the moment of writing the sentence, and says that he liked his experience there.
Top answer
Hi, I happen to think the following phrase "have worked at the *** Company" can have a different contextual meaning in a sentence, depending on whether you attach the time phrases that denote a duration like "for the past three years" and how the phrase "have worked at the *** Company" is used in a sentence (I am not sure I have written correctly to reflect what I wanted to say, though). Yes, you're right. Let us assume that the alphabet letters "***" represent part of a made-up company name.
- Hi, I happen to think the following phrase "have worked at the *** Company" can have a different contextual meaning in a sentence, depending on whether you attach the time phrases that denote a duration like "for the past three years" and how the phrase "have worked at the *** Company" is used in a sentence (I am not sure I have written correctly to reflect what I wanted to say, though).
- Yes, you're right.
- Let us assume that the alphabet letters "***" represent part of a made-up company name.
- Note we normally say 'I work at ***', not 'I work at the *** Company'.
- I have worked at the *** Company and I liked it there.
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1 Answers
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Hi,
I happen to think the following phrase "have worked at the *** Company" can have a different contextual meaning in a sentence, depending on whether you attach the time phrases that denote a duration like "for the past three years" and how the phrase "have worked at the *** Company" is used in a sentence (I am not sure I have written correctly to reflect what I wanted to say, though).
I happen to think the following phrase "have worked at the *** Company" can have a different contextual meaning in a sentence, depending on whether you attach the time phrases that denote a duration like "for the past three years" and how the phrase "have worked at the *** Company" is used in a sentence (I am not sure I have written correctly to reflect what I wanted to say, though).
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