joham
Key Member
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2007
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- China
- Current Location
- China
What does 'in the past' mean? Can 'in the past' equal 'once in the past' in this sentence?
'I have killed three people in the past.'
The book I was reading says this above sentence can only mean that there has been an occasion in the past on which I killed three people: the sentence cannot be used in answer to the question 'How many people have you ever killed / killed up to now?'
That means the above sentence doesn't equal sentences like 'I have killed three people in the past three years'.
And how about the sentence 'The backroom boys have decided too many things in the past. Their day is over.'?
'I have killed three people in the past.'
The book I was reading says this above sentence can only mean that there has been an occasion in the past on which I killed three people: the sentence cannot be used in answer to the question 'How many people have you ever killed / killed up to now?'
That means the above sentence doesn't equal sentences like 'I have killed three people in the past three years'.
And how about the sentence 'The backroom boys have decided too many things in the past. Their day is over.'?
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