dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
|
 Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:08 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| Quote: |
--Excuse me,did you notice whether the NO.108 bus had gone by?
--Not _____ I have been standing here.
A.as B.while C.when D.Since
I think both B and C are correct. |
No, while is correct since it emphasizes a duration of time--from the moment I arrived at the bus stop until now. When doesn't work here.
The only way I can think of to use when with something in the present perfect is when it refers to the final or resulting condition. For example:
When I have been on my feet all day, I like to come home and relax on the sofa and watch TV.
Different emphasis. Incidentally, the first part of the question is quite strange. It's hard to imagine a situation in which someone would say Excuse me, did you notice whether the No. 108 bus had gone by? Past perfect sounds very odd here. Unless there is some peculiar twist in the context that is not apparent, most people would say something like one of the following:
Excuse me, have you seen a No. 108 bus go by?
Excuse me, has there been a No. 108 bus go by?
Excuse me, has a No. 108 bus gone by (in the last few minutes)?
Excuse me, did you notice whether (or not) a No. 108 bus went by in the last few minutes?
...and so on. No need for past perfect that I can see.
Hope this helps.
Greg
P.S. I have actually heard Americans say things like D, although it's really not correct. Since needs to refer back to a point in time, which is not explicitly stated here. With since, the understood meaning is Not since I started standing here. But the fact that some people might say it doesn't mean it's right.  |
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
