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Teo
Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Posts: 193
Location: Taiwan
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 Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:01 am Post subject: [tense] for six months |
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1. I am teaching English for six months.
2. I have been teaching English for six months.
3. I have taught English for six months.
What's the difference in meaning between the above three sentences?
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
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Location: California
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| Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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1. I am teaching English for six months. Incorrect usage.
2. I have been teaching English for six months. I started doing it six months ago and am still doing it. Best sentence of the three.
3. I have taught English for six months. Possibly means the same as no. 2, or could mean that once in the past I taught English for a period of six months.
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Teo
Joined: 15 Oct 2005
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Location: Taiwan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:29 am Post subject: |
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| CP wrote: |
3. I have taught English for six months. Possibly means the same as no. 2, or could mean that once in the past I taught English for a period of six months. |
If in the past I taught English for a period of six months, why not say,
"I taught English for six months."?
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 6:55 am Post subject: |
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| Teo wrote: |
| CP wrote: |
3. I have taught English for six months. Possibly means the same as no. 2, or could mean that once in the past I taught English for a period of six months. |
If in the past I taught English for a period of six months, why not say,
"I taught English for six months."? |
You can certainly say it that way. It implies that you no longer teach English.
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shiloh
Joined: 03 Jun 2006
Posts: 20
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:36 am Post subject: |
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| CP wrote: |
| Teo wrote: |
| CP wrote: |
3. I have taught English for six months. Possibly means the same as no. 2, or could mean that once in the past I taught English for a period of six months. |
If in the past I taught English for a period of six months, why not say,
"I taught English for six months."? |
You can certainly say it that way. It implies that you no longer teach English. |
If so, then why doesnt he say " I had taught English for six months" instead of "I taught English for six months."? What's the difference between both sentence? |
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
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Location: California
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| Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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You would use "had taught" (past perfect) instead of "taught" (simple past) if you meant that the teaching occurred before something else. Example:
Before I moved to Beijing, I had taught English for six months in New York.
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rice07
Joined: 26 Oct 2007
Posts: 385
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:23 am Post subject: |
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Hi Teo
We're compatriots from Taiwan. Happy New Year(for the lunar one)!
Cp is a very nice teacher that we can learn authentic American English from. I've always been enjoying reading his paraphrases to Jasonlulu2000's questions-- those are just the things we want to know.
Bye bye for now! I'm taking a four-day vacation away from home with my family.
Good luck! |
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Teo
Joined: 15 Oct 2005
Posts: 193
Location: Taiwan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:54 am Post subject: |
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| CP wrote: |
| Teo wrote: |
| CP wrote: |
3. I have taught English for six months. Possibly means the same as no. 2, or could mean that once in the past I taught English for a period of six months. |
If in the past I taught English for a period of six months, why not say,
"I taught English for six months."? |
You can certainly say it that way. It implies that you no longer teach English. |
In what context can one use #3 (present perfect) instead of the past tense to mean that once in the past I taught English for a period of six months?
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MauraS
Joined: 11 Feb 2008
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Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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I just saw the post today and I would say that 1. is ok.
1. I am teaching English for six months.
Sometimes we use the present tense to talk about the future.
In this case the sentence would be ok.
But like CP said, it is incorrect if you are using it to talk about the present. |
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
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Location: California
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| Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| MauraS wrote: |
I just saw the post today and I would say that 1. is ok.
1. I am teaching English for six months.
Sometimes we use the present tense to talk about the future.
In this case the sentence would be ok.
But like CP said, it is incorrect if you are using it to talk about the present. |
Now that I think of it, I believe you might use this expression for the future. I just got a job in France. I leave in May. I am teaching English for six months. After that, I am taking two weeks off to visit Spain.
However, to be correct in written and spoken English, I think it would be best to say, I just got a job in France. I will leave in May. I will be teaching / will teach English for six months. After that, I will take / will be taking two weeks off to visit Spain.
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