Hi Shun,
No need to get frustrated. Some grammar topics bring out a lot of
responses on the listserv, others (including some of mine) fall quietly to
the wayside. Perhaps you could fill us in a little more on what you would
like to know about such phrases. Patsi's comment covers the basic
linguistic pattern, it seems to me. As for the grammar books, there
sometimes is no hard-and-fast rule for seemingly important structures. Do
you have any thoughts about how those adverbials are used, or should be
used, or why they are used the way they are?
Brock Haussamen
-----Original Message-----
From: shun Tang [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 10:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Is it a kind of ritual?
So people have a good reason not to talk about the family of 'IN THE PAST XX
YEARS'. Not even a word?
Shun Tang
englishtense.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Patricia Reeve-De Becker" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 9:57 PM
Subject: Re: Is it a kind of ritual?
> It's covered by the rule of present relevance.If a period of time reaches
upto or
> into the present, or there is a possibility of continuation/repetition,
you use
> present perfect. I'm sure the rule is there somewhere:-) It's just a
matter of
> interpreting it .
>
> Patsi
>
> shun Tang wrote:
>
> > Is it a negligence or an intended avoidance?
> >
> > I am not talking of MANY. I am talking of ALL.
> >
> > In talking about English tenses, ALL grammar books are avoiding to talk
> > about the family of the frequently-used adverbial IN THE PAST XX YEARS
(such
> > as in the past, in the past year, in the past ten months, during the
past
> > two decades, over the past three weeks, for the past few years, etc.)
> >
> > Is it a negligence or an intended avoidance? Or is it a kind of ritual?
> >
> > Your opinion is welcome.
> >
> > Shun
> > englishtense.com
> >
> > =========
> > Please post your message to the following address:
> > http://www.englishtense.com/forum.asp
> > under the subject question: "Is it a kind of ritual?"
> >
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> >
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>
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>
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