Present Perfect tense in combination with ‘for/in/since’

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 with ‘for the past few years’ you indicate that the problem is solved recently.

But he says the meaning of the sentence here is: ‘traffic was and is still a problem’.

I believe this is incorrect, and if he wants to indicate that traffic was and still is a problem he would need to formulate the sentence as followed: ‘Traffic has been a big problem in The Netherlands in the past few years.’

*Originally I wanted to use ‘since the past few years’ but according to this topic that is incorrect in English grammar.

Regardless, I hope you can shed some light if I’m wrong and hopefully also why I’m wrong so I can learn.

Answer

I think either preposition is compatible with the meaning that traffic is no longer a big problem.

a. Traffic has been a big problem in The Netherlands for/in the past few years–until now. Now, a new highway is opened.

But maybe you might want to use for instead of in if you mean that traffic is still a big problem, because somehow c. sounds awkward.

b. Traffic has been a big problem in The Netherlands for the past few years now.

c. ?Traffic has been a big problem in The Netherlands in the past few years now.

Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : Kevin M. , Answer Author : listeneva

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