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 #17 (permalink) Wed Dec 09, 2009 20:26 pm Is it possible to say: I haven't spoken to him for 15 years. |
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;_; <- happy endings, always getting me.
(Me and my expertise on misunderstandings... )
| Quote: |
[-] I haven't spoken to him for 15 years.
[?] For how long haven't you spoken to him?
[?] For how long did you say you haven't spoken to him?
[?] How long did you say you haven't spoken to him? |
| Quote: |
[+] It would take us five months to build a new house.
[?] How long would it take us to build a new house?
[?] How long did you say it would take us to build a new house? |
| Quote: |
[+] It would take five months to build a new house.
[?] How long would it take to build a new house?
[?] How long did you say it would take to build a new house?
[?] How long would it take to have a new house built? |
Here is how I see these sentences:
[?] For how long haven't you spoken to him?
This is an honestly oblivious question, one about duration, which demands...
(-) I haven't spoken to him for 15 years.
...a statement about duration, like this negative, for an answer. Now that the information is given...
Sorry, I couldn't hear/memorize:
[?] For how long did you say you haven't spoken to him?
[?] How long did you say you haven't spoken to him?
... these interrogatives acknowledge that the answer has been said/enunciated, and ask for its confirmation or repetition.
One might interpret "for how long" as relating to the "enunciation's duration". ("Uhm, it took me ~1.7s to say 'I haven't spoken......'; Why?? o_O"). Possible but unlikely.
One may interpret "How long?" as "How long (ago)?" - not time duration, but misleadingly time distance. Possible and a bit more likely. Anyways, this sounds more informal.
[?] How long would it take us to build a new house?
(Oblivious question)
[+] It would take us five months to build a new house.
(Informative answer...)
[?] How long did you say it would take us to build a new house?
(Question after the answer...)
[?] How long would it take to build a new house?
[?] How long would it take to have a new house built?
(Equivalent, oblivious questions)
[+] It would take five months to build a new house.
(Informative answer...)
[?] How long did you say it would take to build a new house?
(Question after the answer...)
... Or maybe I'm just wrong. Does anyone see the sentences like this too? o_O
Fifteen-year-unspoken, five-month-built cheers!
Planta |
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 Planta
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| #18 (permalink) Wed Dec 09, 2009 21:10 pm Is it possible to say: I haven't spoken to him for 15 years. |
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Mister Micawber and Planta, thank you both!
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Detlef
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| #19 (permalink) Wed Dec 09, 2009 21:25 pm Is it possible to say: I haven't spoken to him for 15 years. |
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Thank you Mister Micawber and Planta!
| Planta wrote: |
;_; <- happy endings, always getting me.
(Me and my expertise on misunderstandings... ) |
Yes, I was there. :)
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Richard
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| #20 (permalink) Thu Dec 10, 2009 19:31 pm Is it possible to say: I haven't spoken to him for 15 years. |
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Hi,
Maybe somebody could tell me:
1) What's the difference between "I haven't spoken to him for 15 years" and "I haven't been speaking to him for 15 years".
2) Is it possible to say "I have spoken to him for 15 years"?
Thks
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Fedorov
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| #21 (permalink) Thu Dec 10, 2009 23:37 pm Is it possible to say: I haven't spoken to him for 15 years. |
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1-- The progressive makes clear that you are still not speaking to him.
2-- Yes.
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Mister Micawber
Language Coach
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| #22 (permalink) Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:33 am Is it possible to say: I haven't spoken to him for 15 years. |
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The present perfect also does that. Especially for longer-lasting or permanent situations.
-I saw my father for the first time in 1988. I haven't seen or spoken to him since then. Frankly I never wish to see nor speak to him again.
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Detlef
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| #23 (permalink) Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:14 am Is it possible to say: I haven't spoken to him for 15 years. |
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| You might just have finished your period of not speaking to him, which would have been less likely if you'd used the continuous. |
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Cerberus™
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| #24 (permalink) Fri Dec 11, 2009 13:09 pm Is it possible to say: I haven't spoken to him for 15 years. |
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So, it would be better to say: I saw my father for the first time in 1988. I haven't been seeing or speaking to him since then. Frankly, I never wish to see nor speak to him again.
Now what is the difference between: I haven't spoken to him in years and I haven't spoken to him for years.
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