Since + present perfect

Question

Hi there teachers,

Is the present perfect, after since, correctly used in the following example, please?

- It seems like it's been ages since you have been gone.

Could you please tell me about the situations/contexts in which it's possible to use a present perfect after since?

Thank you all.

KJinCali79 · Accepted Answer

This sentence doesn't sound natural at all, and it is not written in present perfect.

Present perfect is Subject + Has/Have + Verb (past participle form) there is no use of "be/been."
Have + been would be used in the present perfect continuous form, but then your verb would have to be in the continuous form as well; not the past participle.

It seems like it's been ages since you have gone.

The Present Pefect Tense is used for:

Actions which happened at an indefinite (unknown) time before now
Actions in the past which have an effect on the present moment
Actions which began in the past and continue in the present

The use of "for" or "since" with present perfect can be a bit confusing to learners. But, "for" applies to a period of time and "since" applies to when the action started.
He has studied English since his arrival in London.
He has lived in London for two years.

CalifJim · Answer

Laborious- It seems like it's been ages since you have been gone.

If you want present perfect, you need a different example.

Here are the usual paraphrases that can help you decide whether to put a past or a present perfect after since in these grammatical patterns with "It's been [amount of time] since".

It's been ages since you graduated from high school. ~ You graduated from high school ages ago.
It's been ages since you have spoken Russian. ~ You have not spoken Russian for ages.

It has been two years since Jack moved to Australia. ~ Jack moved to Australia two years ago.
It has been two years since I have heard from her. ~ I have not heard from her for two years.

CJ

GPY · Answer

I would argue that "since you have been gone" is present perfect; specifically, it is the present perfect tense of "be", with "gone" functioning as an adjective. (However, the combination "it's been ages since you have been gone" sounds wrong to me.)

CalifJim · Answer

GPYit is the present perfect tense of "be", with "gone" functioning as an adjective.

Oh. OK. My brain was seeing something weirdly passive there, and I didn't think it through.

I guess "since you left" sounds better to you?

CJ

Laborious · Answer

Heartily thanks to all of you for your helpful replies.

I read somewhere that we could use a present perfect tense together with another present perfect (which follows 'since') in a sentence when both the actions (or states) are still continuing or on-going.

For e.g. We have visited him every Sunday since he has been on bed (or in the hospital).

Isn't it never possible to use present perfect after since, please?

Thank you all once again!

CalifJim · Answer

LaboriousIsn't it ~~never~~ ever possible to use present perfect after since, please?

Of course it's possible. I gave you these sentences earlier. (See below.) They use the present perfect after since. They are fine grammatically.

It's been ages since you have spoken Russian.
It has been two years since I have heard from her.

What did you think those were? Chopped liver?

LaboriousWe have visited him every Sunday since he has been in the hospital.

Fine. (Don't use "on bed". It's not natural English.)

LaboriousI read somewhere that we could use a present perfect tense together with another present perfect (which follows 'since') in a sentence when both the actions (or states) are still continuing or on-going.

Yes, and there may be other situations where you can also use the present perfect with 'since' like that as well — not that I know what situations those might be.

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

The present perfect is not good in this sentence. You need a specific point in time, which is best described by a simple past tense clause. The present perfect is fine in the main clause.

You have been gone for a long time. I have missed you since the day you left.

Laborious · Answer

Thank you, Alphecca stars and CJ, for giving this thread your precious time.

Actually, I heard something like "Where'd you go, I miss you so. It seems like forever that you've been gone" in a song. I don't know the name of the singer, but yes, it was a female singer; besides, I don't know for sure if I heard it correctly. And I was wondering if we could say something like "It seems like it's (it has) been ages since you have been gone". But now, after reading your posts, I became aware of the fact that it is wrong and unnatural to say "it has been ages since you have been gone".

Thank you once again!

Anonymous · Answer

Teachers,
Is the present perfect used only before since and after

Is this correct?
I saw her twice since I've been here.

Is it the same with "now"
Is this correct?
I saw her twice now that I've been here.

I saw her twice now that I am here.

Present perfect use like this?

I like the cat more now that I've taken care of him.
I like the cat more now that I'm taking care of him.

I thank you for your time.

Anonymous · Answer

Would someone please tell me how to use since and now with the present perfect?
Thanks in advance

Since + present perfect

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