My idea is that "we" started issuing only electronic passports in 2007. "We" issued only electronic passports in 2008, 2009 and so on until now and "we" still issue only electronic passports.Please always tell us if you create the sentences yourself.
Does this sentence mean that we have done so since 2007 and still issue only electronic passports?I think the second is okay, but I think it's much better to say:
As of 2007, we issue electronic passports only.
I haven't heard of this structure before. Thank you!Yes. It also means that prior to 2007 we did not issue electronic passports only.
The forth uses the present perfect continuous. Could it also suggest that "we" don't issue electronic passports any longer?The other two, since they use the present perfect, could suggest that the period of issuing electronic passports only has ended. They don't say anything about what kind of passports we issue now.
The forth uses the present perfect continuous.
Could it also suggest that "we" don't issue electronic passports any longer?
Can you imagine the same sentence but with the perfect continuous?Yes, it could easily be imagined as a preamble to succeeding information, as if there's a 'but' coming:
Since 2007, we have issued electronic passports only, but following recent changes in the law, we are now required also to issue traditional passports.
Sorry, I meant would it sound as natural as the one with the perfect (simple)?I can imagine it, yes.
By "unnatural" I mean something that might be misinterpreted by the listener or might sound like you are illiterate.Could you clarify what you mean by the word 'natural'?
So if that sentence in the perfect continuous could be produced by a proficient native speaker, then it is natural for me.In linguistics, 'natural language' is the kind of language that could be produced by a proficient native speaker, or ChatGPT, for example. In that sense, yes, the sentence is undoubtedly perfectly natural.
By "unnatural" I mean something that might be misinterpreted by the listener
or might sound like you are illiterate.
So if that sentence in the perfect continuous could be produced by a proficient native speaker, then it is natural for me.
Could I ask you about the difference between the two (if there's any)? In what situation would you want to choose one over the other?
- Since 2007, we have issued electronic passports only, but following recent changes in the law, we are now required also to issue traditional passports.
- Since 2007, we have been issuing electronic passports only, but following recent changes in the law, we are now required also to issue traditional passports.
Ok, I see. At least, I've figured out that in many cases, there's no actual difference in meaning between the perfect (simple) and the perfect continuous as long as we add a duration phrase (for [an amount of time]) or (since [a point in time]).That's not a good question. I wouldn't choose either.
I believe this is a very (very) confusing line for learners to see. Yes, the aspect differs in the two, but is there any difference in meaning?Of course there's some difference in meaning. The difference is in the aspect.
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