I referred to the Michael Swan’s Practical English Usage, regarding the use of yet as an adverb (chapter 539.3 yet). The following examples are given below: The postman has not come yet. Has the postman come yet? Is supper ready yet? He explains that yet is used in the negative sentences and positive questions. He … Read more
The two questions in my grammar book: 1)"Many people claim —— sundaes and many towns around the world pretend —- birthplaces of ice creams. A) to have invented / to be B) to invent / to have been answer: A 2)It is quite common for a historic high-rise building — into a residental building. A)Having … Read more
I’ve already searched a lot on the web, but still can’t figure out one specific example. For instance: Mary has been to England twice. Alice has been to the cinema twice this week. (= The week is still not over) I completely understand why we use the present perfect in the above sentences. But here … Read more
I would like to understand the following (because Google returns suspiciously low number of records for this form): A: I saw him there. B (joins the conversation): Hey, have you seen John lately? C: He has just said he had seen him there. Is it OK to use present perfect and then reported speech shifted … Read more
It says that we use present perfect for actions in the past that have a result now. No matter how much I try to figure out this, sometimes it is pretty hard. I have also read the followings as well, but it seems like that I can’t grab this correctly. (Even when I write this, … Read more
I’m currently having a discussion with a friend regarding the usage of a present perfect tense in combination with for/in/since etc. It revolves around this sentence: Traffic has been a big problem in The Netherlands for the past few years. To my understanding with this sentence you say traffic was a problem till now, because … Read more
In a language forum frequented by Russians and me as the only native American English speaker, the question was raised whether “What can have happened to change him so much?” was a misprint. One of the Russians immediately changed can to could. I noticed this and asked her why she had changed it since I … Read more
The book ‘English Grammar in Use, Murphy’ contains the following exercise under the Present perfect/Present perfect continuous chapter: Are you OK? You look as if ____ (you / cry). I have not found any explanations why ‘have been crying’ is the correct answer. Based on my understanding, the action has already been completed (the person … Read more
What is the correct rephrasing for this sentence? I went to the party and now I regret it. I shouldn’t have gone to the party I shouldn’t have been to the party Answer To be true, “have been” and “have gone” mean the same. “Be” as an intransitive verb means “be here”, “go to and … Read more
I’ve been studying English by the book “English Grammar in Use” for a month. There is a Unit about present perfect and – continuous, also Exercises. Please check the below exercises… A. You meet a woman who tells you that she teaches English. You ask her: (how long/ teach / English?) B. You are talking … Read more
