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have p.p.

 
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Chan-Seung Lee



Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032

PostPosted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:31 am    Post subject: have p.p. Reply with quote

Quote:
1.These past two years, I have been studying cancer survivors.
2.These past two years, I have studied cancer survivors.
3.For centuries, people believed that sleepwalkers were possessed by evil spirits.
4.For centuries, people have believed that sleepwalkers were possessed by evil spirits.
5.Until very recently, it was universally believed that men are endowed with more intelligence than women.
6.Until very recently, it has been universally believed that men are endowed with more intelligence than women.
7.My mother was sleeping when I entered the room.
8.My mother had been sleeping when I entered the room.
9.My mother was sleeping for three hours when I entered the room.
10.My mother had been sleeping for three hours when I entered the room.


1.Which is correct, #1 or #2?
2.Which is correct, #3 or #4?
3.Which is correct, #5 or #6?
4.Which is correct, #7 or #8?
5.Which is correct, #9 or #10?

Thanks.
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Lorikeet



Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco

PostPosted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very often the choice of what form to use depends on the meaning that the speaker wants to show. I can accept all of your examples except 6 (although I could accept "had been" instead of "has been"). I don't like 9 so much either, but I think some people would say it.
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