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Lin1978 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Tense
Dear masters,
I have some questions on perfective and simple past sentence, especially when "conditional sentence" involved. I would like to know that, from the native speaker's respect, is there any major difference between these sentences? Furthermore, is the meaning I explained right?
1. Amber called you twice while you were out. She might have something important to tell you.
|<--->|
----- x ----- o -----
|<--->|: Amber called you twice
x : while you are out
o: now
The situation is Amber called you in that period which you were out. I am not sure when you were back.
2. Amber has called you twice while you were out. She might have something important to tell you.
|<----------->|
----- xxxxxxxx o -----
|<--->|: Amber called you twice
x : while you are out
o: now
Is this sentence correct? Or should I change the sentence to " Amber has called you twice since you were out."
Perhaps you're just coming back. The situation is that Amber called you in the period which you were out.
3. Amber had called you twice while you were out. She might have something important to tell you.
|<--->|
----- x ----- o -----
|<--->|: Amber had called you twice
x : while you are out
o: now
Does this sentence have logical problem? On account of the time Amber called you, you seem to be there. You weren't leaving yet.
4. Amber has been calling you while you were out. She might have something important to tell you.
|<XXXXXX>|
----- xxxxxxxx o -----
|<XXXXXX>|: Amber has been calling you
x : while you are out
o: now
Perhaps you're just coming back. The situation is that Amber kept calling you until now.
Thank you for your patient to read my question.
I have some questions on perfective and simple past sentence, especially when "conditional sentence" involved. I would like to know that, from the native speaker's respect, is there any major difference between these sentences? Furthermore, is the meaning I explained right?
1. Amber called you twice while you were out. She might have something important to tell you.
|<--->|
----- x ----- o -----
|<--->|: Amber called you twice
x : while you are out
o: now
The situation is Amber called you in that period which you were out. I am not sure when you were back.
2. Amber has called you twice while you were out. She might have something important to tell you.
|<----------->|
----- xxxxxxxx o -----
|<--->|: Amber called you twice
x : while you are out
o: now
Is this sentence correct? Or should I change the sentence to " Amber has called you twice since you were out."
Perhaps you're just coming back. The situation is that Amber called you in the period which you were out.
3. Amber had called you twice while you were out. She might have something important to tell you.
|<--->|
----- x ----- o -----
|<--->|: Amber had called you twice
x : while you are out
o: now
Does this sentence have logical problem? On account of the time Amber called you, you seem to be there. You weren't leaving yet.
4. Amber has been calling you while you were out. She might have something important to tell you.
|<XXXXXX>|
----- xxxxxxxx o -----
|<XXXXXX>|: Amber has been calling you
x : while you are out
o: now
Perhaps you're just coming back. The situation is that Amber kept calling you until now.
Thank you for your patient to read my question.
Top answer
I cannot follow all your arrows and codes and colours, so let me just say this: 1. -- She called at two points in past time during the length of past time that you were out; no indication of when you returned 2. Amber has called you twice while you were out .
- I cannot follow all your arrows and codes and colours, so let me just say this: 1.
- -- She called at two points in past time during the length of past time that you were out; no indication of when you returned 2.
- Amber has called you twice while you were out .
- -- She called at two point of time in the past during the length of past time that you were out, you have recently returned and the speaker thinks she may call again 3.
- Amber had called you twice while you were out .
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3 Answers
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I cannot follow all your arrows and codes and colours, so let me just say this:
1. Amber called you twice while you were out.-- She called at two points in past time during the length of past time that you were out; no indication of when you returned
2. Amber has called you twice while you were out. -- She called at two point of time in the past during the length o
1. Amber called you twice while you were out.-- She called at two points in past time during the length of past time that you were out; no indication of when you returned
2. Amber has called you twice while you were out. -- She called at two point of time in the past during the length o
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Thanks for your explanation. I get the whole picture how the sentences are working.
But I still have one small question. Except the sentence #3, the past perfective one, the other three sentences are reasonable and meaningful, aren't they?
But I still have one small question. Except the sentence #3, the past perfective one, the other three sentences are reasonable and meaningful, aren't they?
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