Difference between clauses
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- I was alone.
- I have been alone.
Does the second sentence mean that my being "alone" has stopped now, and I am not alone in the present moment?
What is semantic difference between them? I know one is simple past and latter is present perfect. I think it has to do something with time.
grammar
edited 2 days ago
jimm101
5,37561736
asked Dec 6 at 7:37
Manish Kumar Balayan
164
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Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
- I was alone.
- I have been alone.
Does the second sentence mean that my being "alone" has stopped now, and I am not alone in the present moment?
What is semantic difference between them? I know one is simple past and latter is present perfect. I think it has to do something with time.
grammar
edited 2 days ago
jimm101
5,37561736
asked Dec 6 at 7:37
Manish Kumar Balayan
164
New contributor
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
The first was completed in the past and no longer applies. The second was the case in the past and may be the case now. (I'm not sure this is the right forum for a question like this, though.)
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:46
Can you suggest me a right forum.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 7:49
2
Sure. Try this one: ell.stackexchange.com
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:51
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
- I was alone.
- I have been alone.
Does the second sentence mean that my being "alone" has stopped now, and I am not alone in the present moment?
What is semantic difference between them? I know one is simple past and latter is present perfect. I think it has to do something with time.
grammar
edited 2 days ago
jimm101
5,37561736
asked Dec 6 at 7:37
Manish Kumar Balayan
164
New contributor
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
- I was alone.
- I have been alone.
Does the second sentence mean that my being "alone" has stopped now, and I am not alone in the present moment?
What is semantic difference between them? I know one is simple past and latter is present perfect. I think it has to do something with time.
grammar
grammar
edited 2 days ago
jimm101
5,37561736
asked Dec 6 at 7:37
Manish Kumar Balayan
164
New contributor
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 days ago
jimm101
5,37561736
asked Dec 6 at 7:37
Manish Kumar Balayan
164
New contributor
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 2 days ago
jimm101
5,37561736
edited 2 days ago
jimm101
5,37561736
edited 2 days ago
jimm101
5,37561736
5,37561736
asked Dec 6 at 7:37
Manish Kumar Balayan
164
New contributor
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked Dec 6 at 7:37
Manish Kumar Balayan
164
asked Dec 6 at 7:37
Manish Kumar Balayan
164
164
New contributor
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
The first was completed in the past and no longer applies. The second was the case in the past and may be the case now. (I'm not sure this is the right forum for a question like this, though.)
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:46
Can you suggest me a right forum.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 7:49
2
Sure. Try this one: ell.stackexchange.com
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:51
add a comment |
1
The first was completed in the past and no longer applies. The second was the case in the past and may be the case now. (I'm not sure this is the right forum for a question like this, though.)
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:46
Can you suggest me a right forum.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 7:49
2
Sure. Try this one: ell.stackexchange.com
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:51
1
1
The first was completed in the past and no longer applies. The second was the case in the past and may be the case now. (I'm not sure this is the right forum for a question like this, though.)
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:46
The first was completed in the past and no longer applies. The second was the case in the past and may be the case now. (I'm not sure this is the right forum for a question like this, though.)
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:46
Can you suggest me a right forum.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 7:49
Can you suggest me a right forum.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 7:49
2
2
Sure. Try this one: ell.stackexchange.com
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:51
Sure. Try this one: ell.stackexchange.com
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:51
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
The first sentence refers to the completed past event. The event is not going on now.
The second sentence may refer either to the noncompleted event which is going on now or the completed event with the present result.
So the main difference is in the connection of the event /action or state/ with the present moment.
- I was alone but now l'm not.
- l've been alone and it pains me a lot.
answered Dec 6 at 8:00
user307254
77619
So in second case, we cannot be sure of whether action is completed or not.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:11
That's right. We need some context. If there was some reference of duration / for... or since.../, we would definitely know about the process. But we are not sure about the completion of the process /are you still alone?/.
– user307254
Dec 6 at 9:36
Thanks fellow human.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:39
Please cite your sources.
– Kris
Dec 6 at 11:28
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
0
down vote
The first sentence refers to the completed past event. The event is not going on now.
The second sentence may refer either to the noncompleted event which is going on now or the completed event with the present result.
So the main difference is in the connection of the event /action or state/ with the present moment.
- I was alone but now l'm not.
- l've been alone and it pains me a lot.
answered Dec 6 at 8:00
user307254
77619
So in second case, we cannot be sure of whether action is completed or not.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:11
That's right. We need some context. If there was some reference of duration / for... or since.../, we would definitely know about the process. But we are not sure about the completion of the process /are you still alone?/.
– user307254
Dec 6 at 9:36
Thanks fellow human.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:39
Please cite your sources.
– Kris
Dec 6 at 11:28
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
The first sentence refers to the completed past event. The event is not going on now.
The second sentence may refer either to the noncompleted event which is going on now or the completed event with the present result.
So the main difference is in the connection of the event /action or state/ with the present moment.
- I was alone but now l'm not.
- l've been alone and it pains me a lot.
answered Dec 6 at 8:00
user307254
77619
So in second case, we cannot be sure of whether action is completed or not.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:11
That's right. We need some context. If there was some reference of duration / for... or since.../, we would definitely know about the process. But we are not sure about the completion of the process /are you still alone?/.
– user307254
Dec 6 at 9:36
Thanks fellow human.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:39
Please cite your sources.
– Kris
Dec 6 at 11:28
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
The first sentence refers to the completed past event. The event is not going on now.
The second sentence may refer either to the noncompleted event which is going on now or the completed event with the present result.
So the main difference is in the connection of the event /action or state/ with the present moment.
- I was alone but now l'm not.
- l've been alone and it pains me a lot.
answered Dec 6 at 8:00
user307254
77619
The first sentence refers to the completed past event. The event is not going on now.
The second sentence may refer either to the noncompleted event which is going on now or the completed event with the present result.
So the main difference is in the connection of the event /action or state/ with the present moment.
- I was alone but now l'm not.
- l've been alone and it pains me a lot.
answered Dec 6 at 8:00
user307254
77619
edited Dec 6 at 8:30
answered Dec 6 at 8:00
user307254
77619
answered Dec 6 at 8:00
user307254
77619
answered Dec 6 at 8:00
user307254
77619
77619
So in second case, we cannot be sure of whether action is completed or not.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:11
That's right. We need some context. If there was some reference of duration / for... or since.../, we would definitely know about the process. But we are not sure about the completion of the process /are you still alone?/.
– user307254
Dec 6 at 9:36
Thanks fellow human.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:39
Please cite your sources.
– Kris
Dec 6 at 11:28
add a comment |
So in second case, we cannot be sure of whether action is completed or not.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:11
That's right. We need some context. If there was some reference of duration / for... or since.../, we would definitely know about the process. But we are not sure about the completion of the process /are you still alone?/.
– user307254
Dec 6 at 9:36
Thanks fellow human.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:39
Please cite your sources.
– Kris
Dec 6 at 11:28
So in second case, we cannot be sure of whether action is completed or not.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:11
So in second case, we cannot be sure of whether action is completed or not.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:11
That's right. We need some context. If there was some reference of duration / for... or since.../, we would definitely know about the process. But we are not sure about the completion of the process /are you still alone?/.
– user307254
Dec 6 at 9:36
That's right. We need some context. If there was some reference of duration / for... or since.../, we would definitely know about the process. But we are not sure about the completion of the process /are you still alone?/.
– user307254
Dec 6 at 9:36
Thanks fellow human.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:39
Thanks fellow human.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 9:39
Please cite your sources.
– Kris
Dec 6 at 11:28
Please cite your sources.
– Kris
Dec 6 at 11:28
add a comment |
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Manish Kumar Balayan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
The first was completed in the past and no longer applies. The second was the case in the past and may be the case now. (I'm not sure this is the right forum for a question like this, though.)
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:46
Can you suggest me a right forum.
– Manish Kumar Balayan
Dec 6 at 7:49
2
Sure. Try this one: ell.stackexchange.com
– ralph.m
Dec 6 at 7:51