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Diamondrg Posted 21 years ago
In the sentence below, isn't it more natural to say "from time to time they critically examine and influence..."? why do we need present perfect here?
Films quite often focus on journalism, and from time to time they have critically examined and influenced this profession.
Grammar
present perfect with frequency adverbs
In the sentence below, isn't it more natural to say "from time to time they critically examine and influence..."? why do we need present perfect here?
Films quite often focus on journalism, and from time to time they have critically examined and influenced this profession.
Top answer
I think the present perfect is more natural here. The idea is that films quite often engage in an activity, namely focusing on journalism. It is an on-going thing that films do.
- I think the present perfect is more natural here.
- The idea is that films quite often engage in an activity, namely focusing on journalism.
- It is an on-going thing that films do.
- Having engaged in that activity over time, films have accomplished the following: they have examined and influenced journalism.
- An analogy: I build furniture [it's something I do], and I have constructed some very satisfying pieces.
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8 Answers
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I think the present perfect is more natural here. The idea is that films quite often engage in an activity, namely focusing on journalism. It is an on-going thing that films do. Having engaged in that activity over time, films have accomplished the following: they have examined and influenced journalism.
An analogy:
I build furniture [it's something I do], and I have
An analogy:
I build furniture [it's something I do], and I have
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The present perfect more accurately expresses an act that began in the past, continues up to the present, and is likely to continue in the future. "From time to time" already expresses this, doesn't it?
Your suggested use of the present seems to ignore any action in the past. "They examine . . . " implies a fundamental truth. They do it today and always will.
Make sense?
Your suggested use of the present seems to ignore any action in the past. "They examine . . . " implies a fundamental truth. They do it today and always will.
Make sense?
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I am a native speaker of (United States) English.
I would add that both sentences are grammatically correct, but semantically different. The wording and structure make me think the intended meaning is:
1. Films engage in an activity: focusing on journalism.
2. Since films focus on journalism, it follows that from time to time they have critically examined and infl
I would add that both sentences are grammatically correct, but semantically different. The wording and structure make me think the intended meaning is:
1. Films engage in an activity: focusing on journalism.
2. Since films focus on journalism, it follows that from time to time they have critically examined and infl
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which is the the correct
she is growing taller everyday or she has grown taller everyday .
she is growing taller everyday or she has grown taller everyday .
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In the future, please don't add weakly related questions to ancient threads.
Please start a new post instead.
Thanks.
CJ
(Both of your sentences are correct.)
Please start a new post instead.
Thanks.
CJ
(Both of your sentences are correct.)
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