During the whole.....

[ratóncolorao]

Hello,

Can these words "during the whole" go together? Like in this example:

I have been sick during the whole holidays

Thank you.

[billmcd]

Hello,

Can these words "during the whole" go together? Like in this example:

I have been sick during the whole holidays

Thank you.

"Have been" and "during" don't work together "Have been" indicates that your sickness began at some indefinite time in the past up to the present and "during" is a reference to a period of time completed especially with the reference to the holidays. Neither do "during" and "whole" work. Using the terms together is redundant. Better to say, "I was sick during the holidays" or " I had been sick during the holidays".

[ratóncolorao]

"Have been" and "during" don't work together "Have been" indicates that your sickness began at some indefinite time in the past up to the present and "during" is a reference to a period of time completed especially with the reference to the holidays. Neither do "during" and "whole" work. Using the terms together is redundant. Better to say, "I was sick during the holidays" or " I had been sick during the holidays".

Thank you very much for your help. I was completely mistaken about the use of the correct verbal tense. However, I must say that I have just come across this example in Michael Swan's Practical English Usage:

The shop's closed during the whole of August

So, following this example, we could probably say: I was sick during the whole of my holidays.

[billmcd]

Thank you very much for your help. I was completely mistaken about the use of the correct verbal tense. However, I must say that I have just come across this example in Michael Swan's Practical English Usage:

The shop's closed during the whole of August

So, following this example, we could probably say: I was sick during the whole of my holidays. Well, if you insist, but don't blame me if you receive some strange looks. Actually, it is not unusual to see "whole" in reference to months, years, decades etc., but your example for me is a "stretch". And if I ever meet Mr. Swan, I will suggest that he replace "during" with "for".

b.