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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