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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Usage
Were vs. has/have been
I am editing a technical report and among other things changing the tense of the document from future to past. This involves changing the "will be" in sentences like "The results will be modified to improve the overall organization of ..." to "have been" or "were"/"was". To prevent repetition I have been alternating the usage of "have been" and "were."
The question:
I started wondering if there is a difference between "have been" and "were" such that only one is appropriate for any given sentence, or if it is correct to use them interchangeably.
I understand that this most likely won't matter to anybody reading the report other than me, but still feel inclined to ask the question, and use the English language as properly as I can enable myself to. Hmmm; I mean: ... as properly as I am able to enable myself. I don't like the way that sounds. "... and enable myself to use the English language to the highest possible degree of properly." Hmm..
Anal in Raleigh
The question:
I started wondering if there is a difference between "have been" and "were" such that only one is appropriate for any given sentence, or if it is correct to use them interchangeably.
I understand that this most likely won't matter to anybody reading the report other than me, but still feel inclined to ask the question, and use the English language as properly as I can enable myself to. Hmmm; I mean: ... as properly as I am able to enable myself. I don't like the way that sounds. "... and enable myself to use the English language to the highest possible degree of properly." Hmm..
Anal in Raleigh
Top answer
[nq:1]I am editing a technical report and among other things changing the tense of the document from future to past. [/nq] When describing tasks that have been completed, but the results of which are still in effect, I'd stick to the past imperfect "has/have been". g.
- [nq:1]I am editing a technical report and among other things changing the tense of the document from future to past.
- [/nq] When describing tasks that have been completed, but the results of which are still in effect, I'd stick to the past imperfect "has/have been".
- g.
- "The widgets database has been transferred to the new server".
- If you're describing specific steps that were performed as part of attempting achieve an certain ongoing result, past perfect is preferable.
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25 Answers
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[nq:1]I am editing a technical report and among other things changing the tense of the document from future to past. ... "were" such that only one is appropriate for any given sentence, or if it is correct to use them interchangeably.[/nq]
When describing tasks that have been completed, but the results of which are still in effect, I'd stick to the past imperfect "has/have been". E.g. "The wid
When describing tasks that have been completed, but the results of which are still in effect, I'd stick to the past imperfect "has/have been". E.g. "The wid
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[nq:2]I am editing a technical report and among other things ... sentence, or if it is correct to use them interchangeably.[/nq]
[nq:1]When describing tasks that have been completed, but the results of which are still in effect, I'd stick to the past imperfect[/nq]
Urr
[nq:1]"has/have been". E.g. "The widgets database has been transferred to the new server". If you're describing specif
[nq:1]When describing tasks that have been completed, but the results of which are still in effect, I'd stick to the past imperfect[/nq]
Urr
[nq:1]"has/have been". E.g. "The widgets database has been transferred to the new server". If you're describing specif
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[nq:2]When describing tasks that have been completed, but the results of which are still in effect, I'd stick to the past imperfect[/nq]
[nq:1]Urr[/nq]
My bad...I meant to double-check the terminology before sending...not that it really made much difference to what the poster wanted to know.
[nq:1]Urr[/nq]
My bad...I meant to double-check the terminology before sending...not that it really made much difference to what the poster wanted to know.
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Andrew wrote on 29 Oct 2004:
[nq:1]I am editing a technical report and among other things changing the tense of the document from future to past. ... way that sounds. "... and enable myself to use the English language to the highest possible degree of properly." Hmm..[/nq]
I'd stick to one tense instead of alternating. I think I'd use the simple past if it's in the text of the report. I us
[nq:1]I am editing a technical report and among other things changing the tense of the document from future to past. ... way that sounds. "... and enable myself to use the English language to the highest possible degree of properly." Hmm..[/nq]
I'd stick to one tense instead of alternating. I think I'd use the simple past if it's in the text of the report. I us
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[nq:2]been" and >> "were" such that only one is appropriate for any given sentence, or if >> it is correct to use them interchangeably. Urr[/nq]
[nq:1]My bad...I meant to double-check the terminology before sending...not that it really made much difference to what the poster wanted to know.[/nq]
I thought you were just making a joke. Calling the "perect" the "imperfect" has som
[nq:1]My bad...I meant to double-check the terminology before sending...not that it really made much difference to what the poster wanted to know.[/nq]
I thought you were just making a joke. Calling the "perect" the "imperfect" has som
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[nq:1] Mark Barratt Budapest[/nq]
Do you live in (former) Buda or in Pest?
Reinhold (Rey) Aman, Philologist
AUEer Emeritus & Eremitus
Do you live in (former) Buda or in Pest?
Reinhold (Rey) Aman, Philologist
AUEer Emeritus & Eremitus
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[nq:2] Mark Barratt Budapest[/nq]
[nq:1]Do you live in (former) Buda or in Pest?[/nq]
A quick glance out of my window assures me that there's nothing "former" about this part of Buda (Roszadomb, in the second district). Óbuda, in the third district, was intact yesterday. I have to travel to the 11th district to give a lesson in a few minutes. I'll let you know if it's still there when I ge
[nq:1]Do you live in (former) Buda or in Pest?[/nq]
A quick glance out of my window assures me that there's nothing "former" about this part of Buda (Roszadomb, in the second district). Óbuda, in the third district, was intact yesterday. I have to travel to the 11th district to give a lesson in a few minutes. I'll let you know if it's still there when I ge
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Please excuse my top posting. I think you guys failed overall as a team, but you each put out a good effort. ( :-D j/k ) Thank you for your help. The most important question has been answered: that there is a difference of tense. Now I need to actually understnad the difference, and be able to think in terms of how the tenses should be used, which I am not experienced in (for these particular tens
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I am the original poster, just using a different email address. Please excuse my top posting. I think you guys failed overall as a team, but you each put out a good effort. ( :-D j/k ) Thank you for your help. The most important question has been answered: that there is a difference of tense. Now I need to actually understnad the difference, and be able to think in terms of how the tenses should b
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Andrew wrote, in part:
[nq:1]Basically I am probably a better writer than most Engineers, but don't have a grasp of all the terminology as a professor of grammar and usage would.[/nq]
Me too.
[nq:1]What I am updating is a design document that detailed what "would be" done to say what "has been" done. ... is the one that used "have been," because it describes something that happened, th
[nq:1]Basically I am probably a better writer than most Engineers, but don't have a grasp of all the terminology as a professor of grammar and usage would.[/nq]
Me too.
[nq:1]What I am updating is a design document that detailed what "would be" done to say what "has been" done. ... is the one that used "have been," because it describes something that happened, th
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