Present Perfect usage
Binary neutron star systems inspiral and merge as well, but the closest orbiting pair we’ve found won’t merge until nearly 100 million years have passed. (Forbes.)
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There are two present perfect phrases in the sentence above, i.e., "have found" and "have passed" which refer to the past and the future respectively.
Is it the context which decides what usage of the present perfect refers to the action already done (found) or to the action to occur in the future (passed)?
Top answer
anonymous the closest orbiting pair we’ve found To date, we found this one. It implies that we are still searching. anonymous until nearly 100 million years have passed.
- anonymous the closest orbiting pair we’ve found To date, we found this one.
- It implies that we are still searching.
- anonymous until nearly 100 million years have passed.
- It is present.
- It takes one point in time (the present), and expresses another point 100 million years from now.
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anonymousthe closest orbiting pair we’ve found
To date, we found this one. It implies that we are still searching.
anonymousuntil nearly 100 million years have passed.
It is present.
It takes one point in time (the present), and expresses another point 100 million years from now.
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