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Thread: use of tense

  1. #1
    hatimhussain is offline Newbie
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    Default use of tense

    Hello,

    Which one is correct if I intend to say that for some reasons I have been forced to take only vegetables and nothing else to eat. ?

    1. I am having to eat vegetables for many days.

    OR

    2. I have had to eat vegetables for many days.

    OR

    3. I have been compelled to eat vegetables for many days.


    hatimhussain

  2. #2
    Humble is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: use of tense

    Hi, Hatimhussain,
    Welcome to the forum.
    The preposition for calls for the Perfect. So I'd vote for #2. #3 might also be OK, let native regulars say.
    Regards

  3. #3
    MikeNewYork's Avatar
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    Default Re: use of tense

    Quote Originally Posted by hatimhussain View Post
    Hello,

    Which one is correct if I intend to say that for some reasons I have been forced to take only vegetables and nothing else to eat. ?

    1. I am having to eat vegetables for many days.

    OR

    2. I have had to eat vegetables for many days.

    OR

    3. I have been compelled to eat vegetables for many days.



    hatimhussain
    I like #2.

  4. #4
    rewboss's Avatar
    rewboss is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: use of tense

    1. means that the several-day period is not yet over: you still need to eat vegetables for some days to come. Sentences 2 and 3 could mean the same, but they may also mean that the period has recently finished. Sentence 3 is more formal than sentence 2.

    However, none of the sentences mean that you are not able to eat meat during this period -- they just mean you have to eat vegetables. If you change it slightly to "I have had to eat nothing but vegetables..." that clearly means "only vegetables".

  5. #5
    RonBee's Avatar
    RonBee is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: use of tense

    I would say:
    I have been required to eat only vegetables for a few days.
    (I am assuming that it is per doctor's instructions.)

    ~R

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