1) It is our custom to let two years go by before seeing each other again.

2) It was two years between the times we saw each other.

3) We are having lunch together now, after a two-year period of not seeing each other.

2a) 'We hadn't seen each other for two years':

[Last week I ran into Jack; we hadn't seen each other for two years.]

Hi,

To help me explain, I'd like first to find out if you have a basic understanding of the three tenses involved. So, let me ask you about these three simpler examples of these tenses.

What are the differences? In what context would you use them?

She cooks dinner.

She cooked dinner.

She has cooked dinner.

Best wishes, Cli

Dear Clive:

1)She cooks dinner. ( present tense: showing the facts , happening all the time)

2)She cooked dinner. ( past tense: showing the action in the past)

3) She has cooked dinner. ( present perfect: showing the action just happens and time is not important )

Are my answers correct? But I a still confused with #3 with #2. When is the difference between #2

Hi again,

1)She cooks dinner. ( present tense: showing the facts , happening all the time)

2)She cooked dinner. ( past tense: showing the action in the past)

3) She has cooked dinner. ( present perfect: showing the action just happens and time is not important )

Are my answers correct? Yes, although for #3, I'd prefer to say that it shows the past action has im

Thanks alot Clive:

2) we did not see each other for 2 years.

According to philip: (It was two years between the times we saw each other.)

I am still confused with the explaination from Philip.

Could you please give me the time reference. eg Is it that for the perious of 2003-2005, they met first in 2003 then it lasted for 2 years until 2005.

Thanks

We don't see each other for two years at a time.

.........| --- two years --- | ....... | --- two years ---- | ..... | --- two years ---- | .... and so on (always).

We didn't see each other for two years.

.........| ---- two years ---- |.............................. |NOW|

We haven't seen each other for two years.

...............................

Hi,

Thanks alot Clive:

2) we did not see each other for 2 years.

According to philip: (It was two years between the times we saw each other. Yes)

I am still confused with the explaination from Philip.

Could you please give me the time reference. eg Is it that for the perious of 2003-2005, they met first in 2003 then it lasted for 2 years until 2005.