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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Simple past - period of time

I know that the simple past and not the present perfect should be used for a specific time in the past. But can it also be used for a specific period of time such as: I knew her for two years; I knew her since two years.

Because I also know that the present perfect can't be used for a point in time in the past but can be used for a period of time in the past such as: I have known her for two years.
  

Top answer

I knew her for two years; I knew her since two years. ; the second is not a possible construction.

— Mister Micawber

  • I knew her for two years; I knew her since two years.
  • ; the second is not a possible construction.
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5 Answers
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I knew her for two years; I knew her since two years.
The first one is fine if you no longer know her (an odd situation).; the second is not a possible construction.
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Thank you.

Then why is it possible to say 'I have known her since two years' but not 'I knew her since two years'. Does the simple past just not work that way? Or is the construction of the sentence wrong?
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Anonymouswhy is it possible to say 'I have known her since two years'
It is not possible to say that. It is a confusion of two possibilities:

I have known her for two years.
I have known her since two years ago.
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Ok. The construction of the sentence was wrong and not the use of tenses.

And if 'ago' is added, it would be possible? The sentences you wrote are possible?

Could they be written in the simple past form: I knew her since two years ago.
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AnonymousCould they be written in the simple past form: I knew her since two years ago.
No, that could not, since 'ago' is an indicator of a time span ending in the present. However, the other one could, with the caveat that I have already given you in my first post.
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