TeachingEnglish
present perfect in past
Submitted by lpohl on 12 May, 2008 - 06:49
I have recently encountered the following sentence:
I have usually stayed at the Grand when I have been in Paris.
Somehow I feel the sentence can be used. But I have no explanation as to why.
The usual sentence would be I usually stay ... when I am ...
So can someone explain me this usage of present perfect.
Thank you.
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Maybe the person is indicating that until 'now' this has been the case, but is implying a change - hence 'I always stay...' wouldn't be appropriate.
Viv Canal
The example is poor English because it uses the Present Perfect twice .
" I have usually stayed at the Grand when in Paris " or " I usually stay at the Grand when I've been in Paris " sound much better .
The example is poor English because it uses the Present Perfect twice .
" I have usually stayed at the Grand when in Paris " or " I usually stay at the Grand when I've been in Paris " sound much better .
The first does sound more affluent but the second sounds even more destitute.
I'm sorry I don't have a clear answer for you... I'm going to have to do a bit of research on this myself... but what I can say, is:
It sounds perfectly natural, and is correct English.
When I imagine myself hearing this sentence, I immediately picture a couple of very wealthy upper-class business people sitting in an executive office on the top floor of a 50 story office building dedicated entirely to their company.
I have recently encountered the following sentence:
I have usually stayed at the Grand when I have been in Paris.
Somehow I feel the sentence can be used. But I have no explanation as to why.
The usual sentence would be I usually stay ... when I am ...
So can someone explain me this usage of present perfect.
Thank you.
That example sentence sounds completely wrong!
The present perfect is not used for habits, which is what the word "usually" suggests therefore you cannot use the present perfect and "usually" together.
For past habits we use the present simple:
"I usually stay at the Grand when I'm in Paris"
In order to use the present perfect you would have to drop "usually" and the "when" part:
"I have stayed at the Grand" (before, recently, in the past sometime, occasionally - but not at a specific time)
The present perfect is used only if you do not specify when (without the "when I have been in Paris" part) because being in Paris is a past action that is finished, therefore we use the simple past not the present perfect and you do not specify a time when you stayed at the Grand so you can use the present perfect in that part. It's an action that is in the past but we don't know when or are not interested in when and for this reason can use the present perfect.
If you want to specify the when, then you cannot use the present perfect and have to use the simple past.
"I stayed at the Grand while in Paris/when I was in Paris"
That's a past action that is over and has a time specified, but this does not imply habitual actions as the present simple does with "usually".
It just depends what you are actually trying to say.
I don't know why it was so tricky to think about the first time around, but after looking at it just briefly the second time, I've worked out why it sounds okay and how it is different from the present simple version (and I'll throw in a couple of other structures just to add to the clarification).
Situation 1:
I go to Paris regularly. I usually stay at the Grand whenever I go there. I expect things to continue that way:
"I usually stay at the Grand when I'm in Paris."
Situation 2:
I've been to Paris once. I stayed at the Grand that one time:
"I stayed at the Grand when I was in Paris."
Situation 3:
I used to go to Paris regularly. I usually used to stay at the Grand whenever I went there. I don't expect to go back any time in the near future:
"I used to stay at the Grand whenever I was in Paris." or
"I usually stayed at the Grand whenever I was in Paris." or
"I would stay at the Grand whenever I was in Paris."
Situation 4:
I go to Paris regularly. I stay at the Grand regularly. But you suggested that the Hyatt is much better, and I'm seriously considering changing my routine:
"I have usually stayed at the Grand when I have been in Paris."
(and it may continue, "But I might try the Hyatt, if you think it's that good.")
What do you think? Sound right?