there has been

[alexandre42]

Hello
Is it correct to write
'This summer in Headingley there has been an alarming amount of graffiti - I am particularly annoyed about the paint which has been sprayed on the stone walls along Wood Lane'

[Steven D]

Originally Posted by alexandre42

Hello
Is it correct to write
'This summer in Headingley there has been an alarming amount of graffiti - I am particularly annoyed about the paint which has been sprayed on the stone walls along Wood Lane'

Yes, it's correct. Is there something about this sentence that would make you think it might not be correct?


:)

[alexandre42]

Originally Posted by X Mode

Yes, it's correct. Is there something about this sentence that would make you think it might not be correct?

I'm surprised by the use of have . In this case I should say . There was an alarming amount of graffiti this summer . Graffiti were happened in summer .




:)

[Steven D]

'This summer in Headingley there has been an alarming amount of graffiti - I am particularly annoyed about the paint which has been sprayed on the stone walls along Wood Lane'

I'm surprised by the use of have . In this case I should say . There was an alarming amount of graffiti this summer . Graffiti were happened in summer .


The singular form "has" is used because it goes with "amount", which is a singular noun.

Take a look at this:

There is an alarming amount of graffiti. - correct

There are an alarming amount of graffiti. - not correct

There has been an alarming amount of graffiti. - correct

There have been alarming amounts of graffiti. - correct.

Is it easier to understand with the simple present than with the present perfect?

[Steven D]

There are alarming amounts of graffiti.

Originally Posted by alexandre42

I think what Alexandre is surprised about is the use of the present perfect instead of the simple past. The simple past would be okay if the summer being referred to had already finished, which might not be the case - "this summer" may well imply that the time period hasn't finished yet. On the other hand, if it were "last summer", it would be necessary to say, "There was an alarming amount of graffiti in Headingley last summer - I was particularly annoyed about the paint which was sprayed on the stone walls..." The present perfect is necessary if the action or situation started in the past and hasn't finished yet.

Regarding the original sentence, I just think it might sound better to put the adverbial references at the end of the sentence -

"There has been an alarming amount of graffiti in Headingley this summer - I'm particularly annoyed about the paint..."

Alexandre, speaking of annoyance, I've noticed the recurrence of the rolling eyes emoticon in your messages. I know very little, practically nothing, about emoticons, but I think the rolling eyes one, albeit so cute, is used to transmit a feeling of anger or impatience. Have you been using this emoticon because you're upset about something, or because you think the upward turning eyes convey doubt, which was what I used to think they meant? Well, maybe the rolling eyes emoticon is also used to express doubt, I don't know. (By the way, if the rolling eyes smiley is for anger, shouldn't there be one for confusion / doubt / being puzzled?)

Gisele

[Steven D]

Regarding the original sentence, I just think it might sound better to put the adverbial references at the end of the sentence -

"There has been an alarming amount of graffiti in Headingley this summer - I'm particularly annoyed about the paint..."


It would be more typical to put the adverbial "this summer" at the end of the sentence. However, it really is quite normal sounding to me to have it at the beginning also. Adverbials are moved around in order to shift emphasis. In spoken English adverb placement can turn out to be quite unpredictable. It depends on how the thoughts enter the speaker's mind.

There has been, this summer, an alarming amount of graffiti in Headingley.

There has been an alarming amount of graffiti, this summer, in Headingley.

That sort of adverbial placement can and does occur in spoken English.

In written English I would expect "this summer" to be placed at the end of the sentence, or at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.

I don't believe that there is enough attention given to spoken English at English language forums. That is, however, to be expected, seeing as we are typing and not speaking. I sometimes type the way I would speak.


That's a good point you made about the confusion being with the use of the present perfect as opposed to the simple past. I thought the confusion was with whether to choose a singular verb form or a plural verb form.

[Steven D]

Alexandre, speaking of annoyance, I've noticed the recurrence of the rolling eyes emoticon in your messages. I know very little, practically nothing, about emoticons, but I think the rolling eyes one, albeit so cute, is used to transmit a feeling of anger or impatience. Have you been using this emoticon because you're upset about something, or because you think the upward turning eyes convey doubt, which was what I used to think they meant? Well, maybe the rolling eyes emoticon is also used to express doubt, I don't know. (By the way, if the rolling eyes smiley is for anger, shouldn't there be one for confusion / doubt / being puzzled?)


Hi Gisele,

It's interesting that you mention this. I take the rolling eyes emoticon to mean confused or puzzled.

In another context the rolling eyes emoticon could mean "incredulous". It would depend on the context I think.

:)

By the way, this doesn't always mean "shock" to me. I'm not sure what it means, but I like to use it sometimes. Sometimes I think it could mean "wow" or "surprised" or both "wow and surprised". It's hard to tell, but I like it.

:)

[Steven D]

Hi Casiopea,

Would you like some popcorn?

So do you think that the original sentence is wrong?

This summer in Headingley there has been an alarming amount of graffiti.

:)

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by X Mode

Hi Casiopea,

Would you like some popcorn?

So do you think that the original sentence is wrong?

This summer in Headingley there has been an alarming amount of graffiti.

:)

I had to edit my post. Sorry.

In response to your questions: Yup 'n yup. 8)