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Zuotengdazuo Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Since + present perfect?

Dear teachers, now I begin to consider the usage of "since + present perfect". I have rewritten the dialogues in another thread, using "present perfect". Please check if they are natural now.

 Here I still use "since" in a temporal sense.

1. - Have you had any headaches recently?
- Yes. I have had some headaches since I have stayed in that hotel. That hotel is really an awful place to stay!

2. - Since when have you been stressed out?
- I have been stressed out since I have worked in that factory. Our boss makes us work day and night and I can't stand the pressure. So now I am considering looking for a new job.

3. - Did you have a good sleep last night?
- No. I have been bothered constantly by my sister since I have slept last night. During my sleep last night, my sister kept waking me up to consult me about her future. It is not until I get up that my sister stops bothering me.

4. - Since when do you feel better?
- I feel better since I have lain on the sofa. I am completely worn out after leaving work. I need to have a good rest on the sofa.

5. - Hi, you don't look well recently. What's wrong?
- I have been in poor health since I have smoked. 

6. - Hi, have you heard from her recently?
- No, I haven't heard from her since she has lived in London.

Are they natural and do they express the intended meanings? Thank you very much.

  

Top answer

None of them is completely natural.

— Fivejedjon

  • None of them is completely natural.
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40 Answers
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None of them is completely natural.
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fivejedjonNone of them is completely natural.
Thank you, Mr FiveJJ. But what's wrong with my dialogues? What make them unnatural?
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We have tried to tell you in several other threads. Let's just take one example:
5. - Hi, you don't look well recently. What's wrong?
- I have been in poor health since I have smoked.
You are trying to get too much information into one verb form. You presumably mean I have been in poor health since I started smoking. If that's what you mean, say it.
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fivejedjonWe have tried to tell you in several other threads. Let's just take one example:5. - Hi, you don't look well recently. What's wrong?- I have been in poor health since I have smoked.You are trying to get too much information into one verb form. You presumably mean I have been in poor health since I started smoking. If that's what you mean, say it.
Than
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Here are some suggestions to make the dialogues more natural. They are just suggestions. Other possibilities exists.


1. - Have you had any headaches recently?
- Yes. I've been getting headaches since I stayed at that hotel.


2. - How long have you been stressed out?
- I've been stressed out since I began working in that f
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Thank you very much, Mr GPY. But I still have some questions to ask.

1. I don't think your response in the first dialogue is that good. Because you said "since I stayed at that hotel". By that, it's unclear what you mean. We don't know if my headaches started during my stay at the hotel or after leaving hotel.

Do you think so? How does "since I stayed

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zuotengdazuo1. I don't think your response in the first dialogue is that good. Because you said "since I stayed at that hotel". By that, it's unclear what you mean. We don't know if my headaches started during my stay at the hotel or after leaving hotel.
If this distinction is important then you will have to explain it with more words. For example, add "They s
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GPY"since + present perfect" can be used for continuous action that still prevails. For example, "I've known him since he's lived next door" (he still lives next door)
Thank you so much. Your explanation is terrific! But I have a question about what you said above. I don't understand why 'I've known him since he's lived next door' is natural, while mine are not
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zuotengdazuo. I haven't heard from her since she has lived in London.
That sentence is possible so long as she still lives in London. It is not possible if she no longer lives there. For that you'd have to say I haven't heard from her since she left London.
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zuotengdazuo2. Her oral English has made great progress since she has studied English.('have made great progress' and 'study English' are concurrent. And both actions are still the case now.)
3. Tim's father has been watching TV since Tim has slept.('watching TV' and 'sleep' are concurrent. And both actions are still the case now.)
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