sula54
Junior Member
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2005
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Taiwan
- Current Location
- Taiwan
Dear Teachers,
Many grammar books suggest that Present Perfect is “a finished action or event is connected with the present in some way”.
And in the book Michael Swan Practical English Usage page 203 talks about "for +time". It says, "To measure duration up to the present , we use a present perfect tense, not a present tense."
Now here is my question.
I have been to New Zealand, but now I am in Taiwan.
When an interviewor asks me, "Where else have you studied?"
Can I reply, "I have studied in New Zealan for half a year" since I am not in NZ right now?
For other examples I read in the books, it seems that when I use "Present Perfect + for +time" the status should remain the same. For example:
Jill has been in Ireland for three days. (So Jill is in Ireland now.) <=Essential Grammar In Use page 44
They have been married for five years. (So they are still husband and wife now) <=Essential Grammar In Use page 44
I’ve lived in London for a long time. (So I still live in London now.) <=Essential Grammar In Use page 46
But in my case, if I answer, "I have studied in New Zealand for half a year." Doesn't that mean "Now I am still studying in New Zealand", but it is not the real situation. I am in Taiwan now.
I wonder if it is better to say, "I have studied in New Zealand and I studied there for half a year" to avoid a grammar miss.
Many grammar books suggest that Present Perfect is “a finished action or event is connected with the present in some way”.
And in the book Michael Swan Practical English Usage page 203 talks about "for +time". It says, "To measure duration up to the present , we use a present perfect tense, not a present tense."
Now here is my question.
I have been to New Zealand, but now I am in Taiwan.
When an interviewor asks me, "Where else have you studied?"
Can I reply, "I have studied in New Zealan for half a year" since I am not in NZ right now?
For other examples I read in the books, it seems that when I use "Present Perfect + for +time" the status should remain the same. For example:
Jill has been in Ireland for three days. (So Jill is in Ireland now.) <=Essential Grammar In Use page 44
They have been married for five years. (So they are still husband and wife now) <=Essential Grammar In Use page 44
I’ve lived in London for a long time. (So I still live in London now.) <=Essential Grammar In Use page 46
But in my case, if I answer, "I have studied in New Zealand for half a year." Doesn't that mean "Now I am still studying in New Zealand", but it is not the real situation. I am in Taiwan now.
I wonder if it is better to say, "I have studied in New Zealand and I studied there for half a year" to avoid a grammar miss.