have been

[thomas615]

Are these sentences OK? Did I use "present perfect" right?

I have been unable to get hold of the principal's assistant. I will call her again today and hopefully I will get hold of her.

 

[bhaisahab]

Are these sentences OK? Did I use "present perfect" right?

I have been unable to get hold of the principal's assistant. I will call her again today and hopefully I will get hold of her.

Yes and yes.

 

[SoothingDave]

I'd say "ahold."

 

[emsr2d2]

Really? "Ahold" as one word. In BrE, "to get hold of someone" is fine so the original is OK. We might use "to get a hold of someone" but it would definitely be two words.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I don't use it, but it exists.

 

[SoothingDave]

"Hold" would be fine, but it seems stilted to me without the "a."

 

[MikeNewYork]

I agree, but I spell "a hold" as two words.

 

[bhaisahab]

I would not say "ahold".

 

[5jj]

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/ahold