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Yiduo Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

The Tense

Hello,
He is terrified of snakes from his childhood.
He was terrified of snakes from his childhood.
He has been terrified of snakes from his childhood.
Are these all possible expressions? Could you please tell me the differences? Thank you.
  

Top answer

He has been terrified of snakes from his childhood is possible, although He has been terrified of snakes since he was a child would be more usual. He is terrified of snakes from his childhood would suggest that snakes from his childhood terrify him today, which sounds odd and unlikely. He was terrified of snakes from his childhood would suggest that snakes from his childhood continued to terrify him until recently, which also doesn't sound likely.

— Blue Jay

  • He has been terrified of snakes from his childhood is possible, although He has been terrified of snakes since he was a child would be more usual.
  • He is terrified of snakes from his childhood would suggest that snakes from his childhood terrify him today, which sounds odd and unlikely.
  • He was terrified of snakes from his childhood would suggest that snakes from his childhood continued to terrify him until recently, which also doesn't sound likely.
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4 Answers
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He has been terrified of snakes from his childhood is possible, although He has been terrified of snakes since he was a child would be more usual.
He is terrified of snakes from his childhood would suggest that snakes from his childhood terrify him today, which sounds odd and unlikely.
He was terrified of snakes from his childhood would suggest that snak
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Thank you.
Besides,can we use "The city is (not was)built in 1788",if we just want to emphasize it is a fact?
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No. You could say something like:
"The city was indeed built in 1788."
"The city was in fact built in 1788."
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