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Zygis Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

The Present Perfect Simple over a specific period.

Hi, could somebody please explain why this sentence is correct?

"I can tell you what I know about what has transpired during the investigation. "

I'm confused, because the word "during" refers to a specific time, but, nonetheless, there's the present perfect simple tense used.

Thanks.
  

Top answer

We're more used to explaining why a sentence is in correct, rather than correct, but this one's easy. 'During the investigation' does not refer to a specific time but is ongoing. 'Yesterday' or 'last week' refer to specific times.

— Rover_KE

  • We're more used to explaining why a sentence is in correct, rather than correct, but this one's easy.
  • 'During the investigation' does not refer to a specific time but is ongoing.
  • 'Yesterday' or 'last week' refer to specific times.
  • Rover
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9 Answers
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We're more used to explaining why a sentence is incorrect, rather than correct, but this one's easy.

'During the investigation' does not refer to a specific time but is ongoing.

'Yesterday' or 'last week' refer to specific times.

Rover
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But I presume that we can use both the present perfect simple and the past simple tenses with the word "during". Am I right? Here are two sentences that I've found in a dictionary:

during the year I only saw him once.


during the year I only saw him once.

Thank you.
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ZygisI presume that we can use both the present perfect simple and the past simple tenses with the word "during". Am I right?
Yes.

I have only seen him once during this week. (The most recent week.)

I only saw him once during that week. (Any week in the past.)

Usually, "during" is omitted:

I have only seen him o
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Thank you very much. Both of you Emotion: smile

But whilst doing some more English grammar exercises, two more questions arose. Two more
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Both of those sentences can be cast in the present perfect tense.

1) He feels the way that he does today because of what has happened in the past.
2) I am satisfied that you have done everything possible to resolve the problem.

CJ
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And which tense would be more preferable? I assume that if the time is clear, we use the past simple. If not, the present perfect. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks.
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Hi,

Yes, you're right. When you have a specific time, use past simple; otherwise, use present perfect.

Regards
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It is not the issue about specific time. The present perfect tense is sometimes used to break news about something that happened in the past but has present relevance.

Observe the situation:

Suppose I bought a mobile phone yesterday but If I have to break the news to you, I would say " I have bought a mobile phone". For further details I would use the past indefinite tense, for
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Hi,

I've had enough with that issue today. I explained myself many times, pointing out how to use each tense correctly.

I'm not going to do that again. If you wish, you can take a look at this link:



You can find the useful explanations of CJ and me regarding this matter.

Regards
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