One step at a time or One step at the time?

[Miles]

Hi Alan,

What should we say?

One step at a time or One step at the time?

Is it: 'Your reputation precedes you' or 'Your reputation proceeds you'

Could you help me out, please?

[Torsten]

Hi Miles,

It's one step at a time and your reputation precedes you.

TOEIC listening, photographs: A container ship

[Miles]

Hi there,

Thank you very much, you know I'm really happy this forum exists!

Miles

[Torsten]

Hi Miles,

And we are glad to communicate with people like you :)

TOEIC listening, photographs: A mechanic

[MariaEbb]

I have talked with some Englishmen a few times about things like that. I wrote an essay once and asked what is the most right thing to say. Now I use the internet often if I am unsure about a phrase.

For example you can say "I always have" or "I have always." I don't know which of the expressions who got most matches on the internet for the moment.
/Maria

[Alan]

Hi Maria,

I believe there is a difference in use between 'I always have' and 'I have always'. 'I always have' + object would work as: I always have my umbrella with me when I go out. 'I have always' cannot be followed by an object but would be acceptable as part of the Present Perfect as: I have always taken my umbrella with me when I go out.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Iraqi]

Yes, Alan. You've done well explaining the difference.

If I may put it in other words: The 'have' in a sentence like: "I have always taken my umbrella..." is an auxiliary verb which needs a main verb ('taken' - past participle). As for the 'have' in a sentence like: "I always have my dinner at 8 o'clock", it is a main verb.

Based on that, dear Alan, can we say that "have" should come before "always" if it is an auxiliary, but after it if it is a main verb?

Thanks to you, Alan, and to all of the nice teachers like: Torsten, Jamie, and other helpful ones.

Your happy student