[Grammar] Mary is married - and has been for three years.

[kadioguy]

Mary is married - and has been for three years. [My sentence]

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I think this sentence is okay. Then can we just say "Mary is married for three years"? I mean,

a. Mary is married for three years.

b. Mary has been married for three years.

Does (a) mean the same as (b)?

 

[5jj]

(a) is incorrect. 'Married' is an adjective in that sentence.

 

[kadioguy]

(a) is incorrect. 'Married' is an adjective in that sentence.

Isn't 'married' also an adjective in sentence (b)?

 

[5jj]

Yes. My initial response wasn't very helpful, I'm afraid.

My point was intended to suggest that we can't say Mary is [adjective] for three years.

The verb is present tense, but the 'for three years' is a time period from the past up to the present. They don't go together.

 

[Tdol]

Your original sentence works fine- why mess with it?

 

[kadioguy]

My point was intended to suggest that we can't say Mary is [adjective] for three years.

The verb is present tense, but the 'for three years' is a time period from the past up to the present. They don't go together.

For some verbs, it is okay to use the present simple, as in 'Mary learns English [COLOR="#blue"]for[/COLOR] many years'.

Is that right?

 

[5jj]

No.

 

[Tdol]

Do you have any specific verbs in mind?

 

[kadioguy]

No.

Except in narrations, I think.

 

[kadioguy]

Do you have any specific verbs in mind?

Like this: 'Mary learns English [COLOR=#blue]for[/COLOR] many years'.

 

[emsr2d2]

Like this: 'Mary learns English [COLOR=#blue]for[/COLOR] many years'.

And we've already told you that's wrong.

 

[kadioguy]

And we've already told you that's wrong.

I assume that generally speaking that's incorrect, but in some specific contexts it is okay. As in a narration like this:

Mary learns English for many years, but She never goes to English-speaking countries. Today she has a chance to do that - she gets a free ticket to Britain! So she starts to prepare everything she will need on the journey.

Does that work?

 

[5jj]

No. Once again, it's wrong. So is she get a free ticket to British!

 

[kadioguy]

No. Once again, it's wrong.

Why? I'm using the present simple to tell a story. :-?

 

[5jj]

Then drop the 'for many years'.

 

[Tdol]

And change the ticket to Britain.

 

[kadioguy]

Then drop the 'for many years'.

Another way is using the present perfect in the first sentence. Is that right?

 

[5jj]

Yes, as you did in your original sentence.

 

[emsr2d2]

Please don't edit posts after they've received responses. 5jj's and Tdol's responses pointing out a couple of errors now look very strange because your original post no longer contains them!

 

[kadioguy]

Please don't edit posts after they've received responses. 5jj's and Tdol's responses pointing out a couple of errors now look very strange because your original post no longer contains them!

I've highlighted them so that 5jj's and Tdol's responses now look fine.