Some of the films I’ve seen recently <have been> <are> very violent.

[Michaelll]

• Some of the films I’ve seen recently have been very violent.

I've found this sentence and I'm really struck by it. I would never say it this way, never. I would say either of these (below):

• Some of the films I’ve seen recently were very violent. (= describing the movies what they were when I watched them)
• Some of the films I’ve seen recently are very violent. (= the movies are very violent) -- I think I'd most probably choose this one to say (out of the two, and I'd never even think of 'have been' as a third possible option).

Do you have any ideas why the original sentence contains "have been"?

 

[5jj]

I've found this sentence and I'm really struck by it.

Where?

We shouldn't still have to be asking for the source of things you quote.

 

[Michaelll]

Where?

We shouldn't still have to be asking for the source of things you quote.

Why does it matter? Can't you analyze a sentence regardless of where it comes from (who said/wrote it)? I'm sure you can.
It's from Cambridge grammar book, English Grammar in Use, Unit 88, exercise 1.

 

[5jj]

It matters for several reasons, including:

1. English copyright law is very strict, and we have to ensure that we don't infringe it.
2. It is a courtesy to credit writers of words we quote.
3. It is a forum rule, and we hope that members who ask for our help will abide by our rules.

 

[Michaelll]

1. English copyright law is very strict, and we have to ensure that we don't infringe it.

Are you sure you can break the copyright law just by saying/writing the sentence (as if you couldn't come up with it yourself)?

• Some of the films I’ve seen recently have been very violent.

 

[5jj]

I am sure that you cannot deliberately ignore the rules of this forum without getting banned.

 

[Michaelll]

I don't think I'm breaking any rules now. I have provided the source.

It's from Cambridge grammar book, English Grammar in Use, Unit 88, exercise 1.

 

[White Hat]

'Are' seems to be the best option there. 'Have been' sounds somewhat unnatural.

 

[5jj]

• Some of the films I’ve seen recently have been very violent.
• Some of the films I’ve seen recently were very violent. (= describing the movies what they were when I watched them)
• Some of the films I’ve seen recently are very violent. (= the movies are very violent)

All three are possible. The tense/aspect used depends on the way the speaker views the situtation.

 

[White Hat]

All three are possible. The tense/aspect used depends on the way the speaker views the situtation.

Could you please provide a context in which 'have been' could be used here?

 

[5jj]

Some of the recent Jason Statham films have been very violent.
Some of the films I’ve seen recently have been very violent.

In both cases I am looking back from the moment of speaking.

 

[tedmc]

I think the perfect tense of the verb "have been" is used by the writer to describe his recent personal experience of watching the films, which have consistently contained violence.
The simple present tense is used with a general statement of fact.

 

[emsr2d2]

Bear in mind that a native speaker is unlikely to use your original sentence construction at all.

I've seen some very violent films recently.

 

[Michaelll]

Bear in mind that a native speaker is unlikely to use your original sentence construction at all.

It's not my sentence construction. As I've said above it's from a Cambridge grammar book.

 

[emsr2d2]

It's not my sentence construction. As I've said above it's from a Cambridge grammar book.

I looked in post #1 for a source (which is where it should be) and didn't see one so I assumed you'd written the sentence yourself. None of us should have to scroll through a thread searching for the source.

 

[Michaelll]

I looked in post #1 for a source (which is where it should be) and didn't see one so I assumed you'd written the sentence yourself. None of us should have to scroll through a thread searching for the source.

Well, whether you should or should not have to scroll through a thread searching for the source is none of my business. I don't really care.
But the point is: you said "a native speaker is unlikely to use the original sentences construction at all" and now, you've learned it's from the Cambridge grammar book written by a native speaker.

 

[emsr2d2]

Well, whether you should or should not have to scroll through a thread searching for the source is none of my business. I don't really care.
But the point is no colon here you said "A native speaker is unlikely to use the your original sentences sentence construction at all" and now no comma here you've learned it's from the a Cambridge grammar book written by a native speaker.

That doesn't change my view. Lots of text books are full of sentences none of us would say in real life.
Note my corrections above. If you're going to quote me, at least copy my words exactly.

 

[jutfrank]

The speaker uses the present perfect to look back at his recent experience of watching the mentioned films and the impression they've left on him. This is a very common use of the present perfect.

Here's a similar example I've made up:

Over the course of my life, I've had three wives, two of which have been fellow teachers.

 

[Michaelll]

The speaker uses the present perfect to look back at his recent experience of watching the mentioned films and the impression they've left on him. This is a very common use of the present perfect.

Here's a similar example I've made up:

Over the course of my life, I've had three wives, two of which have been fellow teachers.

Ok, I get it! Thanks! By the way, this is the thing I called 'matching the aspect', I meant the exact same concept when I talked about it.

 

[5jj]

I meant the exact same concept what that I talked about it.

.