Since ancient times

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

If I am talking about the past isn't it better to use 'Since ancient times' instead of 'Since the first people existed'?
1. 'Since the first people existed in the world hunting represented a part of their lives.' I am not sure about 'represented'.
2. 'Since ancient times hunting played an important part in people's lives.'

 

[emsr2d2]

The tense is wrong in both. Look at what tense should be used after "Since".

 

[GoesStation]

Isn't it better to use 'Since ancient times'? (I'm pretty sure "since ancient times" is better. I just want to be sure.)

Is it better to use 'Since ancient times'? (I'd like to know whether it's better.)

It's not usually natural to begin a question with "isn't it" without some introductory text. You might say "My friend told me I should say 'Since the first people existed in the world hunting represented a part of their lives.' Isn't it better to say it like this? …."

Even if you're pretty sure that "Since ancient times" is better, your question would be more natural if it began with "Is it".

 

[tedmc]

"Isn't it" can sound a bit pushy, right?

 

[GoesStation]

"Isn't it" can sound a bit pushy, right?

It can, but it's often just a way to say "This is what I believe. Am I right?"

 

[Rachel Adams]

The tense is wrong in both. Look at what tense should be used after "Since".

Maybe I should change them into:
1. 'Since the first people had existed in the world, hunting represented a part of their lives.'
2. 'Since ancient times hunting has played an important part in people's lives.'

 

[Tarheel]

You could use the second one. You could also say:

Since ancient times, hunting has been an important part of people's lives.

The original societies were hunter-gatherers.

 

[Rachel Adams]

You could use the second one. You could also say:

Since ancient times, hunting has been an important part of people's lives.

The original societies were hunter-gatherers.

Thank you but I don't understand how to correct the first sentence.

 

[Tarheel]

I don't either. So I didn't try.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

"Isn't it" can sound a bit pushy, right?

Not to me.

"Isn't it, damn it" sounds pushy.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hello.

If I am talking about the past, isn't it better to use 'Since ancient times' instead of 'Since the first people existed'?

I think so. It sounds more natural.

Also, notice that existed isn't necessary. "Since the first people" means the same thing.

1. 'Since the first people [STRIKE]existed in the world[/STRIKE], hunting represented a part of their lives.' I am not sure about 'represented'.

The tense could be improved. You could also say our lives. Or life.

Represented is okay, but it's more straightforward just to say has been: Since the first people, hunting has been a part of our lives. The whole sentence is awkward.

2. 'Since ancient times, hunting played an important part in people's lives.'

Better! Very natural.

Now fix that tense!

The word existed is often awkward. Simplify!

 

[tedmc]

Since the first people existed in the world, hunting represented a part of their lives.

Perhaps since the beginning of mankind might be better. That was only during the Neolithic Age. Of course such people still exist today, as in certain primitive, indigenous tribes.

 

[GoodTaste]

You could use the second one. You could also say:

Since ancient times, hunting has been an important part of people's lives.

The original societies were hunter-gatherers.

The problem is that the present perfect seems to imply that hunting is still part of people's lives. It is not, at least in our modern society. Most of us are no more hunters.

 

[Rachel Adams]

The word existed is often awkward. Simplify!

What if I change it into 'Since ancient times, hunting used to play an important part in people's lives'? To fix the tense.

 

[emsr2d2]

Don't use "Since" and "used to".

In ancient times, hunting used to play/hunting played ...
Since ancient times, hunting has played ...

However, "hunting has played" brings up the same problem that GoodTaste mentioned in post #13.

The present perfect is used with "since" and there is no present perfect form of "used to".

 

[Rachel Adams]

Don't use "Since" and "used to".

In ancient times, hunting used to play/hunting played ...
Since ancient times, hunting has played ...

However, with "hunting has played" brings up the same problem that GoodTaste mentioned in post #13.

The present perfect is used with "since" and there is no present perfect form of "used to".

Yes, I didn't want to use the present perfect for the reason GoodTaste mentioned. It doesn't play an important part anymore so the present perfect is wrong but why is it wrong to use 'since' with the simple past?
Since ancient times, hunting played an important part in people's lives. Is it because since suggests it is still contiues to be an important part while it actually is not?
The part in bold is removed from the second sentence. 'Since the first people existed in the world hunting represented a part of their lives.' If I start my sentence with 'since' which tense should I use if it's wrong to use the present perfect?

 

[tedmc]

Change since ancient times to in ancient times and your sentence would be correct.

 

[emsr2d2]

You can't really start your sentence with "Since" because the situation is no longer relevant (it doesn't continue to the present day).

 

[GoodTaste]

You can't really start your sentence with "Since" because the situation is no longer relevant (it doesn't continue to the present day).

It is because "since" is defined as "from then till now."

To find a way out, one solution might be using "from" instead of "since":

From ancient times, hunting played an important part in people's lives.

 

[GoesStation]

You can't really start your sentence with "Since" because the situation is no longer relevant (it doesn't continue to the present day).

That's the key here. Once you begin the sentence with "since", you're committed to the present perfect.