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Thread: since + past simple/present perfect

  1. #1
    mafto is offline Junior Member
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    Default since + past simple/present perfect

    Here ( Learning English | BBC World Service ) they say that "It's been a long time since I had pasta." and "it's been a long time since I have had pasta." are both correct.

    What about the first verb, then? Could someone also (correctly
    ) say "Since the time I have been a teenager I have changed my mind?"
    And what about "Since the time I have been a teenager, I changed my mind" ?

    Thank you very much :)

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    nouamaneer is offline Junior Member
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    Default Re: since + past simple/present perfect

    Interesting!
    Last edited by nouamaneer; 31-Oct-2012 at 15:46.

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    5jj
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    Default Re: since + past simple/present perfect

    Quote Originally Posted by mafto View Post
    Here ( Learning English | BBC World Service ) they say that "It's been a long time since I had pasta." and "it's been a long time since I have had pasta." are both correct.
    The second is another way of saying. "I haven't had pasta for a long time", and is fine. We can't say, "Since the time I have had pasta it has been long".
    Could someone also
    say "Since the time I have been a teenager I have changed my mind?"?
    And what about "Since the time I have been a teenager, I changed my mind" ?
    No and No. If you are still a teenager you could say, "I have changed my mind since I became a teenager" or "I have changed my mind since I have been a teenager".
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    JarekSteliga is offline Member
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    Default Re: since + past simple/present perfect

    Quote Originally Posted by 5jj View Post
    [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Verdana] ... "I have changed my mind since I have been a teenager".

    NOT A TEACHER

    I have to say that I find this disconcerting. I remember a rule accoring to which Present Perfect "works" since a given point in time untill now. "Having been" a teenager hardly seems a point in time to me, but rather an extended period of time. Somehow "having become" a teenager works better for me, as it suggests a point in time.

    I also have to admit that "Present Perfect" since "Present Perfect" structure is a revelation to me. "Present Perfect" since "Simple Past" has always seemed only correct. I suppose on your and the BBC's authority I am bound to try (not an easy thing to do at my age ) to also work the former into my English grammar.

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