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Michaelting Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Tenses
Hi, I would like to know which of the following is correct.
a) I have been waiting for you.
b) I had been waiting for you yesterday.
Please explain why.
Scenario 2:
a)There has been a steep increase in crime rate.
b)There had been a steep increase in crime rate last year.
Please explain. TY
Also, I would like to know if the word 'dead' in the term 'left him for dead' is a noun or an adjective. I always thought that after 'for' you have to put a noun. Can it be left him for(his) death?
a) I have been waiting for you.
b) I had been waiting for you yesterday.
Please explain why.
Scenario 2:
a)There has been a steep increase in crime rate.
b)There had been a steep increase in crime rate last year.
Please explain. TY
Also, I would like to know if the word 'dead' in the term 'left him for dead' is a noun or an adjective. I always thought that after 'for' you have to put a noun. Can it be left him for(his) death?
Top answer
Hello, Michael - and welcome to English Forums. -- OK only if connected in context with another past but more recent event: I had been waiting for you yesterday when I suddenly remembered your schedule change. -- As above for Sc 1.
- Hello, Michael - and welcome to English Forums.
- -- OK only if connected in context with another past but more recent event: I had been waiting for you yesterday when I suddenly remembered your schedule change.
- -- As above for Sc 1.
- Also, I would like to know if the word 'dead' in the term 'left him for dead' is a noun or an adjective.
- -- I suppose this is an idiomatic structure.
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3 Answers
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Hello, Michael - and welcome to English Forums.
a) I have been waiting for you.-- OK
b) I had been waiting for you yesterday.-- OK only if connected in context with another past but more recent event: I had been waiting for you yesterday when I suddenly remembered your schedule change.
Scenario 2:
Please explain.-- As above for Sc
a) I have been waiting for you.-- OK
b) I had been waiting for you yesterday.-- OK only if connected in context with another past but more recent event: I had been waiting for you yesterday when I suddenly remembered your schedule change.
Scenario 2:
Please explain.-- As above for Sc
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Thanks for the quick reply!
From your reply, I see that past perfect tense is used like ''I had been....before....'' Are they any other ways past perfect tenses can be used? Also, can I use time such as yesterday, last month,last year,etc. in perfect tenses?
From your reply, I see that past perfect tense is used like ''I had been....before....'' Are they any other ways past perfect tenses can be used? Also, can I use time such as yesterday, last month,last year,etc. in perfect tenses?
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Past perfect is also used in reported speech:
John: "I was taking a bath when you called."
John said that he had been taking a bath when I called.
Yes, I think time markers can be used:
I had just taken my usual bath at 7:10 last night when the phone rang.
John: "I was taking a bath when you called."
John said that he had been taking a bath when I called.
Yes, I think time markers can be used:
I had just taken my usual bath at 7:10 last night when the phone rang.
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