Is the past tense possible for the phrase "for the past 3 years"??

[sitifan]

For the past 3 years, Alice concentrated all her efforts on writing a screenplay.

Is the past tense possible for the phrase "for the past 3 years"??

 

[5jj]

'For the past x days/weeks/years/etc' normally suggests a time period extending up to the moment of speaking. It is therefore associated with the present perfect rather than the past.

 

[Tarheel]

Try this. (See below.)

For the past three years, Alice has been writing a screenplay.

 

[Tdol]

In BrE, it doesn't really work.

 

[sitifan]

1. Gas prices have risen sharply over the past few weeks.
2. Gas prices rose sharply over the past few weeks.
#1 is correct. Is #2 acceptable to native speakers?

 

[5jj]

#1 would be correct if has were changed to have.
#2: 'Over the past x days/weeks/years/etc' normally suggests a time period extending up to the moment of speaking. It is therefore associated with the present perfect rather than the past.