It has been a while

[Daniellll]

Do we say:

- it has been a while since we met
OR
-it has been a while since we have met?

 

[BobK]

The first, because 'we have met' refers to the present meeting. For example 'We have met today to discuss the rail strike.'

But a lot of speakers just see one perfect and have a kneejerk reaction that makes them carry on with the perfect willy-nilly. So I expect some users would (wrongly, in my view) regard your second sentence as acceptable. ;-)

b

 

[MASM]

The first, because 'we have met' refers to the present meeting. For example 'We have met today to discuss the rail strike.'

But a lot of speakers just see one perfect and have a kneejerk reaction that make them carry on with the perfect willy-nilly. So I expect some users would (wrongly, in my view) regard your second sentence as acceptable. ;-)

b

What is a kneejerk?

 

[BobK]

What is a kneejerk?

A reflex - an action that takes place, regardless of whether you want it to, when something triggers it.

As this article says - Patellar reflex - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - 'The term began to be used figuratively from the early 20th century onwards'.

b

 

[MASM]

Interesting word. Thank you!

 

[BobK]

You've probably have noticed that I used it as an adjective qualifying the noun 'reaction' and the American source mentioned in that Wikipedia used it as a noun. I don't think it is (yet!) widely used in Br English as a noun. ;-) (Always pleased to feed a fellow logoholic's craving! [And don't bother looking that up, because - I think - I just made it up.)

b