[Grammar] It's been far too long since we've seen each other.

[andi harper]

Hello. I've heard sentences such as:
It's been far too long since we've seen each other.
It's been a long time since you've been operational.
Shouldn't we use Past Simple after since?
With gratitude.

 

[GoesStation]

Write "I've heard sentences such as/like:"

Your sentences are correct with the present perfect.

You would use the past simple (no capital letters) after "since" in phrases like:

I haven't seen you since we bumped into each other downtown.
Your time machine hasn't been operational since the flux capacitor broke down.

 

[andi harper]

Write "I've heard sentences such as/like:"

Your sentences are correct with the present perfect.

You would use the past simple (no capital letters) after "since" in phrases like:

I haven't seen you since we bumped into each other downtown.
Your time machine hasn't been operational since the flux capacitor broke down.

I don't get it. Why are my sentences correct? Could you please elaborate?

 

[bhaisahab]

Please correct the information in your profile, andi harper.

 

[andi harper]

Please correct the information in your profile, andi harper.

Hi. What information is that?

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi. What information is that?

Your current location information does not appear to be accurate.

 

[Tarheel]

With the word "since" there are lots of possibilities.Here are three:

I haven't seen her since Tuesday.
We haven't gotten together since we went bowling that time.
It's been several days since I've seen Ed.
He's been here since nine o'clock.
It's been weeks since I had a haircut.

OK, five.

 

[engee30]

Your time machine hasn't been operational since the flux capacitor broke down.

What a marvelous reference to my all-time favourite franchise Back to the Future. In fact, we only yesterday had another repeat of the movie, the final Part III. Love the movie to bits. :-D

 

[andi harper]

With the word "since" there are lots of possibilities.Here are three:

I haven't seen her since Tuesday.
We haven't gotten together since we went bowling that time.
It's been several days since I've seen Ed.
He's been here since nine o'clock.
It's been weeks since I had a haircut.

OK, five.

I have no problem with other possibilities except for present perfect after "since". Does it carry some other meaning than past simple?

 

[emsr2d2]

The meaning is the same. For my part, I would probably use "It's been several days since I last saw Ed" but the present perfect isn't wrong. I just find it unnecessary.

Thank you for correcting your profile information.

 

[Matthew Wai]

It's been a long time since you've been operational.
Shouldn't we use Past Simple after since?

I would say 'since you became operational' if the simple past was used.

 

[emsr2d2]

They don't have the same meaning.

"It's been a long time since you've been operational" means that you are no longer operational and that you became non-operational a long time ago.
"It's a long time since you became operational" means that you became operational a long time ago. It's impossible to tell whether you are still operational.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I found the following thread, which might be helpful to the OP.

https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/...ived-in-London?p=222321&viewfull=1#post222321

 

[andi harper]

The meaning is the same. For my part, I would probably use "It's been several days since I last saw Ed" but the present perfect isn't wrong. I just find it unnecessary.

Thank you for correcting your profile information.

Still don't get the use of present perfect here. There has to be a reason for it.

 

[Raymott]

There is a reason. It's the way a lot English natives speak. "It's been a while since I've done that." This is quite normal to me. I find this a more convincing sentence than the one about Ed though.
There doesn't have to be further reason for it being right unless there is a good argument for it being wrong.

 

[andi harper]

There is a reason. It's the way a lot English natives speak. "It's been a while since I've done that." This is quite normal to me. I find this a more convincing sentence than the one about Ed though.
There doesn't have to be further reason for it being right unless there is a good argument for it being wrong.

How do I know when to use present perfect or past simple?

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think the simple past 'lived' cannot be used below:

He has made a lot of friends since he has lived in London.

 

[Raymott]

How do I know when to use present perfect or past simple?

If you don't like the present perfect there, use the simple past. You'll be right most of the time.
But don't expect everyone to make the same choice.

 

[andi harper]

If you don't like the present perfect there, use the simple past. You'll be right most of the time.
But don't expect everyone to make the same choice.

It's not that I don't like it, I just want to know how to determine when to use which?

 

[Tarheel]

Say:

He has made s lot of friends while he has been living in London.

Meaning: He is living in London now, and he has made a lot of friends there.