Simple Past or Perfect or both

[Joern Matthias]

I read in a newspaper the following sentence that raised the following question.


Losses of bee colonies since 2004 have left the continent with fewer managed pollinators.

Question:
I know that you have to use the present perfect tense if you move the expression 'since 2004' to the beginning or the end of this sentence, because the only link is to the main verb of the sentence 'have left'. But if you use the expression 'since 2004' in the position as in the sentence above, can you also use the past tense if you want 'since 2004' only to be directly linked to losses of bee colonies meaning losses of bee colonies that have been since 2004 left the continent with fewer pollinators?

Could you also use the present progressive in the following construction? Losses of bee colonies since 2004 are worrying biologists and scientists alike.

I am looking forward to your answers and already want to thank you

Joern

[Uncle M]

Losses of bee colonies since 2004 have left the continent with fewer managed pollinators.

This text is fine, because the decline of pollinators is continuing.

If you use the past tense (as opposed to present perfect), you should replace 'since' by 'after' :

Losses of bee colonies after 2004 left the continent with fewer managed pollinators.

This use of the past tense here suggests that the decline took place but has not continued until the present day.

(not a teacher)

[philo2009]

I read in a newspaper the following sentence that raised the following question.


Losses of bee colonies since 2004 have left the continent with fewer managed pollinators.

Question:
I know that you have to use the present perfect tense if you move the expression 'since 2004' to the beginning or the end of this sentence, because the only link is to the main verb of the sentence 'have left'. But if you use the expression 'since 2004' in the position as in the sentence above, can you also use the past tense if you want 'since 2004' only to be directly linked to losses of bee colonies meaning losses of bee colonies that have been since 2004 left the continent with fewer pollinators?

Could you also use the present progressive in the following construction? Losses of bee colonies since 2004 are worrying biologists and scientists alike.

I am looking forward to your answers and already want to thank you

Joern

As noted by the previous contributor, not really acceptable even in this sentence-position.

As for your second sentence, although it is somewhat less exceptionable than the other, good usage would demand the present perfect progressive '...have been worrying...'.

[Joern Matthias]

Hi Uncle M

Thank you very much for your answer, which was a great help indeed.

Regards,

Joern

[Joern Matthias]

Hi Philo 2009,

Thank you very much for your reply, which was of great help.

Regards,

Joern