Primarily on use of present perfect tense in certain contexts

Question

Hi. Are these correct? I think they are correct.

(as sort of an school cafeterial rule)

Please throw away the food you have eaten into the trashcan as you leave.

(as sort of an book assignment instruction)

Please don't submit book reports based on any books you haven't read.

How about these? I think they both mean the same in that they indicate his having worked for the past two years and still works there.

He has worked/taught at this place for the past two years.

He has been working/been teaching at this place for the past two years.

Then again, I think the meanings still hold true even though we take out the phrase "the past" from the example sentences above. Please tell me what you think.

He has worked/taught at this place for two years.

He has been working/been teaching at this place for two years.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousPlease throw away the food you have not eaten into the trashcan as you leave.

OK as corrected.

AnonymousPlease don't submit book reports based on any books you haven't read.

OK.

AnonymousHe has worked/taught at this place for the past two years.
He has been working/been teaching at this place for the past two years.

All permutations you've suggested are correct.

AnonymousHe has worked/taught at this place for two years.
He has been working/been teaching at this place for two years.

Right. These have the same meanings as the corresponding sentences in the previous set.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you. Could you help me with this too?

To apply what has been said, I think the sentence below indicates his having worked for the past two years and still continuing to work (although not definitively?).

He has work/taught at this place for (the past) two years.

But if you limit the time period involved to one year and put in the phrase "in the last year," I don't think it says that he has work for the entire year and still continue to work there, but rather it seems to say that it is likely that he worked there for some period, but not necessarily for a whole year, in the past and left the place. What do you think?

He has worked/taught at this place in the last/past year.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI think the sentence below indicates his having worked for the past two years and still continuing to work (although not definitively?).

He has worked/taught at this place for (the past) two years.

The two years of interest are the two years ending at the moment you utter the sentence. Your view of it is correct.

AnonymousBut if you limit the time period involved to one year and put in the phrase "in the last year," I don't think it says that he has work for the entire year and still continue to work there, but rather it seems to say that it is likely that he worked there for some period, but not necessarily for a whole year, in the past and left the place. What do you think?

He has worked/taught at this place in the last/past year.

It doesn't say he has worked for an entire year. Correct. I also think that it says he worked there for some period, probably for less than a year, but in (during) the last year, not necessarily continuing up to the time of the utterance of the sentence.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Hi. Thank you, again. Please help me with this, too.

I wrote:

To apply what has been said, I think the sentence below indicates his having worked for the past two years and still continuing to work (although not definitively?).

He has work/taught at this place for (the past) two years.

My question now: Could we use the same sentence above in writing some sort of recommendations just after he finished working or teaching (or even attending or playing??) -- like a month, shortly after? And that doesn't mean, by the context, that he is still working, unlike what is implied for the example sentence above, which is his still working or teaching at the place?

(some sort of recommendation)

He has worked at this place /taught at this place /attended this place/ played for our team for (the past) two years, and I found him to be a person of good character ...

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousTo apply what has been said, I think the sentence below indicates his having worked for the past two years and still continuing to work (although not definitively?).
He has worked/taught at this place for (the past) two years.

It sounds like you are asking the same question again with the same mistake you made last time.

AnonymousMy question now: Could we use the same sentence above in writing some sort of recommendations just after he finished working or teaching (or even attending or playing??) -- like a month, shortly after?

Yes.

AnonymousAnd that doesn't mean, by the context, that he is still working, unlike what is implied for the example sentence above, which is his still working or teaching at the place?

You seem to be very confused about what you're trying to say.

That doesn't mean that he is still working = The sentence above doesn't mean that he is still working

unlike what is implied for the sentence above = which is not like what the sentence above implies.

Putting all that together, it seems you're saying: The sentence above is not like the sentence above because the sentence above doesn't imply what the sentence above implies.

I can't make any sense of it, but maybe my answer below will be helpful anyway.

______

AnonymousHe has worked at this place /taught at this place /attended this place/ played for our team for (the past) two years, and I found him to be a person of good character ...

This is fine while he is still working at this place, or just after his finished working at this place, or even a month or so after he finished working at this place, but I wouldn't stretch it any farther than that. In three or four months, it won't be appropriate to say "He has worked at this place for the past two years". There is too much of a time gap.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you. For now, it seems clear. I think I have to go over your response several times, referencing back and forth to the previous post (and likely to other posts before that) and this response.

Thank you, again.

Primarily on use of present perfect tense in certain contexts

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions