Results 1 to 4 of 4
Like Tree3Likes
  • 1 Post By bhaisahab
  • 2 Post By 5jj

Thread: we've never been able=future?

  1. #1
    ostap77 is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Ukrainian
      • Home Country:
      • Ukraine
      • Current Location:
      • Ukraine
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    3,295

    Default we've never been able=future?

    "I know in 11 years, we've never been able to find these weapons that are supposed to have been found."

    Does it mean in 11 years they are never going to be able to find the weapons they will need to have found? If so, would the use of the present perfect be conveying a certain connotation?

  2. #2
    bhaisahab's Avatar
    bhaisahab is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • England
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    19,301

    Default Re: we've never been able=future?

    Quote Originally Posted by ostap77 View Post
    "I know in 11 years, we've never been able to find these weapons that are supposed to have been found."

    Does it mean in 11 years they are never going to be able to find the weapons they will need to have found? If so, would the use of the present perfect be conveying a certain connotation?
    No, it doesn't mean that. To be honest I'm not quite sure what it's supposed to mean. Where did you find it?
    5jj likes this.

  3. #3
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    24,029

    Default Re: we've never been able=future?

    ostap, you submitted this question less than three hours after I wrote, in another of your threads, "You have been a member of this forum long enough to know that the more context we have, the more satisfactory the answer is likely to be". What is going on?
    ostap77 and bhaisahab like this.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


  4. #4
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • Philippines
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Posts
    38,633

    Default Re: we've never been able=future?

    It's a bit of a mess, but the eleven years is up to now, and they have managed to locate the weapons that are supposed to have been detected or found IMO.

Similar Threads

  1. [Grammar] Will Future/Future continuous/Future perfect
    By Metathron in forum General Language Discussions
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 27-Jul-2008, 01:27
  2. Replies: 8
    Last Post: 10-Oct-2007, 20:23
  3. future continuous/future perfect, little+adj
    By silviasabater_2000 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 26-Sep-2007, 16:15
  4. Future continuous v/s Future pefect tense
    By j_p in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 10-Jun-2005, 07:02
  5. Difference b/w Future Simple & Future Perfect
    By Aroma in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 13-Dec-2004, 08:34

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1