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Use of the word since


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Use of the word since #16 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:02 pm   Use of the word since
 

bara wrote:
Hi guys,
That was really fantastic discussion. :wink:
May I try mine, if you don't mind.

Ever since I've joined this forum, my English has raised up.
Ever since he's bought a car, he hasn't could see us.


Hi Baraa

Your sentences should use the simple past tense after "since" because the verbs "join" and "buy" refer to specific, complete actions in the past which mark the point in time when something else began.

Ever since I joined this forum, my English level has been rising.
Since I joined this forum, my English level has risen.
(Ever) since he bought a car, he hasn't been able to visit us.

(The last sentence is grammatically correct, but I don't understand the logic of the sentence. 8))

Putting the word "Ever" in front of "since", makes it more likely that you will need the present perfect continuous in the second half of the sentence.

Note: raise is not normally used with "up" and the verb "raise" also always needs an object. Without an object, you should use rise (also without "up").

You can't use can or could in present perfect (or with any modal verb). In order to get the same meaning as "can" in the present perfect or with modal verbs, etc, you have to use "be able to" instead:

He can speak English.
He has been able to speak English since he was a child.
He will be able to speak English after he finishes the course.


Amy
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Use of the word since #17 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:43 pm   Use of the word since
 

You're right, Tamara, about the use of a continuous tense after 'ever since'. This expression means 'from that time onwards', 'continually since that time' and gives the idea of something happening gradually.

Now, as to Baraa's second example, I'd put it like this:

Ever since he bought a car, he hasn't been able to see us (can/could/been able to).

PS: Oops, I hadn't seen your post, Amy.
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Use of the word since #18 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 19:45 pm   Use of the word since
 

Amy, Conchita, thank you for the explanation and for the examples.

Quote:
present perfect continuous in the second half of the sentence.

But could you give an example with ‘has been being’ and ‘hasn’t been being’ (??)
(that would be 'the pure' form :) of present perfect continuous for 'to be' – at least, in my understanding of the form.)
?
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Use of the word since #19 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 21:23 pm   Use of the word since
 

Quote:
Putting the word "Ever" in front of "since", makes it more likely that you will need the present perfect continuous in the second half of the sentence.

Hi Tamara :D
Some verbs aren't used very often in any continuous tense and "be (able to)" is one of them. That's one of the reasons why I wrote "more likely" and not "always". 8) Sometimes the present perfect simple is better / necessary.

For example, you would never say "He has been being rich ever since he won the lottery." :shock: Instead you would say "He has been rich ever since he won the lottery."

Taking Baraa's car sentence as an example, that sentence is better with present perfect simple in the second half --- no matter whether you begin the sentence with "since" or "ever since" --- because "be able to" is something that you normally would not use in any continuous tense:

Ever since he bought a car, he hasn't been able to visit us.

If you want to use be as a continuous tense ("is being", "has been being", etc.), you should have an especially good reason for doing it. Did you have something specific in mind? :lol:

Amy
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Use of the word since #20 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 21:44 pm   Use of the word since
 

Amy, Conchita and Tamara: Thank you very much for all these explanations. I really appreciate it and it was so useful.

What I meant by my second sentence; Ever since he bought a car, he hasn't been able to see us; is that I implied he became proud because he has got a car therefore he broke up with us and didn't like to visit or see us any more because we are not from his level of richness.

Best Regards
Baraa
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Has been being #21 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 21:46 pm   Has been being
 

Hi Amy :)

Sorry for my negligent quoting of your saying.

'Ever since I've met the guru, I have been being in an enlightened mind.' :D
Right? :)

P.S.
Quote:
If you want to use be as a continuous tense ("is being", "has been being", etc.)...

Just in case (to distinguish Active-Passive) – could you say, which one from the next two examples for Passive form

‘The country has been being bombed since last week.’
‘The country is being bombed since last week.’

sounds better? (without taking into account it’s content :( )

Tamara
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Has been being #22 (permalink) Fri Jul 28, 2006 22:27 pm   Has been being
 

Tamara wrote:
'Ever since I've met the guru, I have been being in an enlightened mind.' :D
Right? :)
:cry: I would say "Ever since I met the guru, I have been in an enlightened mind." Or I might say "Ever since I met the guru, I have been being enlightened on a regular basis." :lol:


P.S.
Quote:
If you want to use be as a continuous tense ("is being", "has been being", etc.)...

Just in case (to distinguish Active-Passive) – could you say, which one from the next two examples for Passive form

‘The country has been being bombed since last week.’
‘The country is being bombed now.("since last week" is better used with present perfect)

sounds better? (without taking into account it’s content :( )

Hi Tamara

Yes, I'd say you'd probably find be in a continuous form most often in passive sentences.

Amy
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I have been being enlightened on a regular basis. Ever since #23 (permalink) Sat Jul 29, 2006 11:47 am   I have been being enlightened on a regular basis. Ever since
 

Hi Amy

Thank you for the explanation and correcting my sentence. Quite clear (quite clear. ;) ).

:) She has enlightened my crude mind :). I have my mind enlightened. :)

(Ermm… I have been having my mind enlightened, ever since... :D (it's a joke only)).

Thanks!
Tamara
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Ummmm... #24 (permalink) Sat Jul 29, 2006 13:38 pm   Ummmm...
 

Tamara wrote:
Ermm…


By the way, on the other side of the pond you will not hear "ermm" or even "emm" but rather "um". :lol:

Amy
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Ummmm... #25 (permalink) Sat Jul 29, 2006 14:16 pm   Ummmm...
 

Yankee wrote:
Tamara wrote:
Ermm…


By the way, on the other side of the pond you will not hear "ermm" or even "emm" but rather "um". :lol:

Amy


It?s impressive! :wink: One always can learn anything about foreign culture. :lol:

Michael
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