"I haven't heard from my cousin in ten years"??

Status
Not open for further replies.

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
Is it possible to say "I haven't heard from my cousin in ten years."
I guess in should be replaced by "for".
I saw this sentence in a grammer book, but it doesn't seem to make sense as "in" means "after".
 

Jaskin

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
UK
hi,
please note I'm not a teacher nor a native speaker;

As far as I know it's correct and acceptable;
in means after for the future meaning. In your example it is the same as for .
in:
3. Expressing a period of time during which an event takes place or a situation remains the case
they met in 1885
at one o'clock in the morning
I hadn't seen him in years

4. Expressing the length of time before a future event is expected to take place
I'll see you in fifteen minutes

Cheers
 

engee30

Key Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2006
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
England
Oxford says that in is used in negative sentences or after first, last, etc. meaning for (a particular period of time):
I haven't seen him in years.
It's the first letter I've had in ten days.
 

2006

Key Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
Is it possible to say "I haven't heard from my cousin in ten years." yes, absolutely
I guess in should be replaced by "for".
I saw this sentence in a grammar book, but it doesn't seem to make sense as "in" means "after".

No, "in" only means 'after' when you are talking about the future.
It will be reviewed in ten years.


2006
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top