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
>
> =========
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> http://www.englishtense.com/forum.asp
> under the subject question: "Is it a kind of ritual?"
>
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