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 #17 (permalink) Sun Mar 06, 2011 17:22 pm a month before |
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I would rather use neither. 'for a month' is enough for me, considering using the present perfect. Or else, I would use the past simple with 'ago' with no 'have' or additional 'for'.
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Bookaholic_English
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| #18 (permalink) Sun Mar 06, 2011 17:27 pm a month before |
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| Hanifasmm wrote: |
Mr.E2e4,
My sentence is this.
"I have been there only a month before."
I have never used 'ago' in this sentence. "A month before now" is equal to "ago" for me.
In what respect the tenses are not matching here. There is only one tense in this sentence and it is the present perfect tense.
Could you please explain.
Thanks. |
Hi Hanifassmm
in my opinion, the event happened in the definite past. So the simple past has to be used.
On the second look the sentence is ambiguous actually.
It isn't clear to me, have you been for a month or you were there a month ago.
Much better to say
I have been there for only a month. (You don't know when I have been there)
I was there only a month ago. (I was there at that time which was located in the past, a month to now. You don't know for how long I was there. Also,'I was there for two days, only a month ago.' Now you know for how long I was there and when it happened. But it is for sure over. I am not there anymore.)
In addition look at this situation.
Someone has tried to rob you. It happened half an hour ago. But you are still upset and worried. It isn't over for you. The consequences stays for some more time.
I see it this way.
Something has happened what has implications on you at the moment of speaking.
So, "now" has started when they started to rob you.
And I think, a native English speaker would say
It has never happened before.
But some other NES would say
This didn't happen before.
Dear teachers, please explain all of this correctly and with confidence. |
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 E2e4
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| #19 (permalink) Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:24 am a month before |
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I agree with you for now.
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| #20 (permalink) Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:33 am a month before |
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1. I was there a month ago.
2. I had been there a month before/earlier/back.
3. I was there a month before my departure abroad.
Are all these sentences correct grammatically?
"I was there a month before." is wrong.
"I say/said that I had been there a month before." is a way telling in indirect speech.
Am I correct? |
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Hanifasmm
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| #21 (permalink) Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:44 am a month before |
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1 and 3 are okay.
You need something after 'before' in 2.
I had been there a month.
I had been there a month / before (the event that took place after the month)
I was there a month.
I was there a month / before (the event that took place after the month)
I was/had been there a month / before that.
I was/had been there a month / before I broke my leg.
I was/had been there a month / before the letter arrived.
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| #22 (permalink) Sat Mar 12, 2011 7:12 am a month before |
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Mr. Beeesneees
"I have been there only a month before now."
Will this sentence satisfy the grammar conditions?
Please clarify me. |
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Hanifasmm
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| #23 (permalink) Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:22 am a month before |
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Hello Hanifasmm,
Use of 'before' and 'now' sounds very unnatural.
'I have been there for a month now.' or 'I have been there only a month.' would be correct alternatives which mean the same thing.
To use 'before' in your sentence, you have to follow it with a specific event/anniversary/date, etc.
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| Ms, Mrs, Miss? | Please check this sentence |
