since/ago

Hi everybody,

I know that in English "since" goes along with present perfect and "ago" with preterit.

But in this case i am not quite sure of the one to use:

"Since it (the real estate bubble) has broken out two years ago ..."

"Since it (the real estate bubble) broke out two years ago ..."

The second one seems false to me knowing that it still has a impact on the present but I need a confirmation to be sure.

thanks for your efforts to help me

How about using "Since breaking out two years ago"?

The first example you gave is, I think, incorrect, but the second one is correct English.

Not a teacher.

Gregory. said:

Hi everybody,

I know that in English "since" goes along with present perfect and "ago" with preterit.

But in this case i am not quite sure of the one to use:

"Since it (the real estate bubble) has broken out two years ago ..."

"Since it (the real estate bubble) broke out two years ago ..."

The second one seems false to me knowing that it still has a impact on the present but I need a confirmation to be sure.

thanks for your efforts to help me

Click to expand...

Are you sure that the verb "to break out" is appropriate?

Gregory. said:

Hi everybody,

I know that in English "since" goes along with present perfect and "ago" with preterit.

But in this case i am not quite sure of the one to use:

"Since it (the real estate bubble) has broken out two years ago ..."

"Since it (the real estate bubble) broke out two years ago ..."

The second one seems false to me knowing that it still has a impact on the present but I need a confirmation to be sure.

thanks for your efforts to help me

Click to expand...

When you specify a moment in the past (two years ago) you shoudn't use present perfect. You're talking about a past event. Past simple is alright.
I am not a teacher.

bhaisahab said:

Are you sure that the verb "to break out" is appropriate?

Click to expand...

I don't if it does but Cambridge explanation of break out is:

"If something dangerous or unpleasant breaks out, it suddenly starts"; perhaps break is more relevant :

"to come or bring to notice; to (cause to) be known
When the scandal broke (= came to the public's attention) , the company director committed suicide."

Anyway I doubt about whether i used the right tense in this sentence or not.Thanks

bhaisahab said:

Are you sure that the verb "to break out" is appropriate?

Click to expand...

I guess "to burst" or "to collapse" would be suitable for a bubble.

I think you were right "to burst".

thanks for everything

Gregory. said:

I think you were right "to burst".

thanks for everything

Click to expand...

By the fact I'm really sorry for this post because after reflecting on the subject I mistook "since" the adverb and "since" the preposition ; the latter which indicates a particular time in the past thence excluding de facto the present perfect because of "ago".

thanks i like this forum because it gives me now an interactivity to my studies not the one with a computer but with English, Americans and people from everywhere like you who are in Turkey.

thanks