small dialog

Status
Not open for further replies.

ostap77

Key Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
1)" My parents have come."

2)"Where were they before they came on a visit?"

3)"They had been to the countryside."


Could I have used the past simple instead of the present pefect in the first sentence? Should I have used the past perfect in the second one? Is it OK with the third one?
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
1)" My parents have come."

2)"Where were they before they came on a visit?"

3)"They had been to the countryside."


Could I have used the past simple instead of the present pefect in the first sentence? Should I have used the past perfect in the second one? Is it OK with the third one?


If that is the complete dialogue, then the most natural for me, a speaker of BrE, would be:

1. My parents have come for a visit.
2. Where were they before they came? (or: Where did they come/arrive from?
) Where had they been before they came? is possible
3.They were/had been in/to the country.
 

riquecohen

VIP Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
Brazil
If that is the complete dialogue, then the most natural for me, a speaker of BrE, would be:

1. My parents have come for a visit.
2. Where were they before they came? (or: Where did they come/arrive from?
) Where had they been before they came? is possible
3.They were/had been in/to the country.
I would say the same thing. (AmE)
I think that in #2, Where did they come from? would be more natural for me.
 

ostap77

Key Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
I would say the same thing. (AmE)
I think that in #2, Where did they come from? would be more natural for me.

We alway say "come for a visit". We say "We are here on a visit." Is it possible to say "come on a visit"?

Could I use the past simple in the first sentence "My parents came for a visit."?
 
Last edited:

riquecohen

VIP Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
Brazil
We alway say "come for a visit". We say "We are here on a visit." Is it possible to say "come on a visit"? Yes.

Could I use the past simple in the first sentence "My parents came for a visit."?
It would depend on the time frame. If your parents have recently arrived, you would say ",,,,,have come...."
"My parents came...." suggests to me that they came and have already gone home.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top