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Jumanah Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Went back a long way

We went back a long way.We have gone back a long way.Are these correct?
  

Top answer

Hi You can use that phrase for time or distance - We went back a long way [= We had known each other for a long time] The second phrase doesn't, to my mind, work in that way - It is taking us ages to get home. We have gone back a long way [= We have taken a route that is not the quickest way home] Dave

— Dave_anon

  • Hi You can use that phrase for time or distance - We went back a long way [= We had known each other for a long time] The second phrase doesn't, to my mind, work in that way - It is taking us ages to get home.
  • We have gone back a long way [= We have taken a route that is not the quickest way home] Dave
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4 Answers
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Hi

You can use that phrase for time or distance

- We went back a long way
[= We had known each other for a long time]

The second phrase doesn't, to my mind, work in that way

- It is taking us ages to get home. We have gone back a long way
[= We have taken a route that is not the quickest way home]

Dave
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I think for "We've known each other for a long time," you would be more likely to hear "we go back a long way." Now that I think about it, it's a pretty strange idiom!
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Hi

It is strange. I picked up on the past tense without thinking about it. Maybe it does work that way

- I'm looking forward to seeing Bill next week - we go back a long way

- I was sorry to hear that Bill died - we went back a long way

Dave
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Okay. I got it.Thank you so much for your explanation.
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