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Yanx Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Use of ago with present perfect?
Hi:
To my knowledge, the word "ago" cannot be used with the present perfect tense, but I saw some sentences with that usage on the Internet, which says that for the purpose of writing or make the content much more vivid, sometimes "ago" can be used like the first sentence I give below. So Could you please explain if the following sentences are correct, if not, why? Better give me one expamle for both situations and general rules if available. Thanks very much!
Sentences I saw on the Internet:
1. I had thought that he had died at least 20 years ago.
2. I have given up that idea long ago.
Xin Yan
To my knowledge, the word "ago" cannot be used with the present perfect tense, but I saw some sentences with that usage on the Internet, which says that for the purpose of writing or make the content much more vivid, sometimes "ago" can be used like the first sentence I give below. So Could you please explain if the following sentences are correct, if not, why? Better give me one expamle for both situations and general rules if available. Thanks very much!
Sentences I saw on the Internet:
1. I had thought that he had died at least 20 years ago.
2. I have given up that idea long ago.
Xin Yan
Top answer
yanx 1. I had thought that he had died at least 20 years ago. You are confusing present perfect with past perfect.
- yanx 1.
- I had thought that he had died at least 20 years ago.
- You are confusing present perfect with past perfect.
- This sentence contains the past perfect, so the rules about the use of the present perfect don't apply.
- yanx 2.
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1 Answers
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yanx1. I had thought that he had died at least 20 years ago.You are confusing present perfect with past perfect. This sentence contains the past perfect, so the rules about the use of the present perfect don't apply.
yanx2. I have given up that idea long ago.This is wrong. It should be I gave up that idea long ago.
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