It is ... + since

[hela]

Dear teachers,

1) Would you please tell me if the following constructions are correct in English ? and if yes, is there a difference between them?

a) It is a long time since I saw you.
b) It has been a long time since I saw you.
c) It was a long time since I saw you.
d) It was a long time since I had seen you. (incorrect ?)

2) Would it be possible for you to give me exercises on that point of grammar?

Thanks a lot,
Hela

[Casiopea]

Dear teachers,

1) Would you please tell me if the following constructions are correct in English ? and if yes, is there a difference between them?

a) It is a long time since I saw you.
b) It has been a long time since I saw you.
c) It was a long time since I saw you.
d) It was a long time since I had seen you. (incorrect ?)

2) Would it be possible for you to give me exercises on that point of grammar?

Thanks a lot,
Hela

They all sound awkward to me, sorry. Try,

It's been a long time since I've seen you ~ It has been a long time since I have seen you.

I'm not sure what the grammar point is. Could you be more specific about what you're looking for?

[Francois]

b) It has been a long time since I saw you.

This sounds fine to me :-/

FRC

[Dany]

It's been a long time since I've seen you ~ It has been a long time since I have seen you.

Hello Casiopea,

I'm not agree with you in this case. I think that "since I saw you" is correct, because saw refers to the past. You can also say "since I last saw you".

If I am wrong, please explain me, why.

Kind regards,
Dany

[hela]

Hello teachers,

My question was which of the following sentences are correct .

I found such a sentence (a) in a textbook:

a) "It is three weeks since he was in touch with me." Is it wrong ??

Or does it have the same meaning as:
b) "It has been three weeks since I last saw you."? (is it possible to add "last" ?)

(I think "since I saw you" is correct because it expresses the time at which I stopped seeing you, right?)

c) "It has been three weeks since I have seen you." Correct ?

d) "It was three weeks since I saw you." Wrong, right?

e) "It had been three weeks since I had seen you." Correct ?

Thank you very much for your help.
Hela

PS: If my question is still not clear I'll try to rephrase it.

[Dany]

"It is three weeks since he was in touch with me." Is it wrong ??
That's wrong. You should say: Three weeks ago he was in touch with me.

"It has been three weeks since I last saw you."?
That's wrong. You should say: I last saw you three weeks ago.

The other sentences of you are also wrong. I try to explain you, why.
You said in ever sentences, that it was three weeks ago. So you know
when it happend. That's why you have to use Simple Past.

In your first examples, you have to use Present Perfect, because you don't
say, when you have seen him / her the last time.
It has been a long time since I (last) saw you.


I hope that helps you.

Kind regards,
Dany

[Casiopea]

Hello Casiopea,

I'm not in agreement with you in this case. I think that "since I saw you" is correct, because saw refers to the past. You can also say "since I last saw you".

If I am wrong, please explain to me, why.

Kind regards,
Dany

Hello, Dany.

If the time sequence is known, or specific, then the simple past works,

It has been three weeks since I last saw you.
It has been three weeks since I saw you last.

If the time sequence is unknown, or unspecified, then the present perfect works,

It has been a long time since I have seen you.

All the best,

[Casiopea]

My question was which of the following sentences are correct.

And your question was answered, Hela.

I found such a sentence (a) in a textbook:

a) "It is three weeks since he was in touch with me." Is it wrong??

It's ungrammatical. 'was' is fine with 'three weeks', but 'is' needs to be in the perfect:

EX: It has been three weeks since he was in touch with me.

b) "It has been three weeks since I last saw you."? (is it possible to add "last"?)

'last' functions as an adverb. It's fine. Here are the other alternatives:

EX: It's been three weeks since I saw you last.
EX: It's been three weeks since I last saw you.
EX: It's been three weeks since last I saw you.

(I think "since I saw you" is correct because it expresses the time at which I stopped seeing you, right?)

Close. You're right about the verb having to be compatible with the time frame. The sentence is fine with 'saw'. The time period it refers to is specific 'three weeks', but change it to 'a long time', a non-specific period of time, and you'll have to change the verb to 'have seen':

EX: It's been a long time since I've seen you.

c) "It has been three weeks since I have seen you." Correct?

d) "It was three weeks since I saw you." Wrong, right?

e) "It had been three weeks since I had seen you." Correct?

Context is important here. Do you have any handy? Grammatically, and this is without context to help me out, I'd say that c), as is, is fine, that d) is awkward, and e) strange. But, then again, I'm working from my own interpretation of how those sentences would fit into a dialogue. Way too much brain work.

PS: If my question is still not clear I'll try to rephrase it.

You're question was very clear. Apparently, our responses were not.

[Casiopea]

That's wrong. You should say: Three weeks ago he was in touch with me.[/color]

That's wrong. You should say: I last saw you three weeks ago.

It has been a long time since I (last) saw you.

Try to use pink or blue or green or any color aside from red. You see, in some cultures of the world, corrections made in red are . . . well, let's just say that we certainly wouldn't want to offend anyone or give them the wrong idea.

[hela]

You're question was very clear. Apparently, our responses were not.

Dear Casiopea,

I burst into laughter when I read your remark! I think you're very modest, my dear teacher.

All the best and thank you again for your help.
Hela