[Grammar] Student mixes tenses - How to correct?

[Kate Henderson]

Hi

I hope someone can help me, please.

A student has written the following in a Present Continuous tenses lesson. How can I correct them?

John has been to Paris - I expect he'll come back next week.

They've mixed Present Perfect 'Has been' with future tense 'He'll come back'

Would it be correct to say 'John is staying in Paris - I expect he is coming back next week. Can anyone help me decipher the rule here:?:

Thank you in advance.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The rule is there is nothing wrong with using different tenses in different clauses.

I saw her standing on the street. She is beautiful.
John has been visiting Paris. I expect him to return next week.

 

[SoothingDave]

"John has been to Paris" indicates to me that he has gone and come back.

"John has gone to Paris" indicates that he left and has not come back yet.

 

[Matthew Wai]

"John has gone to Paris"

I think it can also mean that he has left but not yet arrived, but I am not a teacher.

 

[engee30]

'John has gone to Paris' simply says that the person in question is not present where the speaker and the hearer are.

 

[Raymott]

'John has gone to Paris' simply says that the person in question is not present where the speaker and the hearer are.

But surely it says something about him going to Paris as well.

 

[Rover_KE]

engee, please remember to state that you are not a teacher.

 

[Kate Henderson]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I'm still not sure how to correct it though because it is supposed to be Present Continuous John is in Paris right now and he will be coming back.

I am aware that there is nothing wrong with mixing tenses but it doesn't make sense to say John has been to Paris given the context of the next clause.

 

[tedmc]

John has gone to Paris. I expect him to come back next week.

John has gone for the trip to Paris. It does not matter whether he is on his way there, in Paris itself or on the way back.
If you want to say that he is there right now:

John is in Paris. I expect him to come back next week.

 

[Matthew Wai]

John has been to Paris

I think it could refer to a life experience which could have happened recently or decades ago, but I am not a teacher.

engee, please remember to state that you are not a teacher.

I think engee30 used to be a teacher according to https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/...-been-living?p=1185363&viewfull=1#post1185363

 

[engee30]

That's the thing, Matthew - I used to be one, but not any more. All I can provide students with now is my posts commenting on their questions.

 

[Raymott]

Kate, you forgot to tell us that all the sentences had to be in the present continuous. In that case, what you have written is obviously adequate. As far as what the rules are, it appears that the rules are that all the sentences must be in the present continuous tense.
Beyond that, I think we could only guess.

 

[MikeNewYork]

engee, perhaps your profile should be changed to retired teacher.

 

[engee30]

I've already had a similar suggestion:
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/230855-if-Tom-had-not-eaten-he-would-have-been?p=1185464&viewfull=1#post1185464

Should I bump into Tdol in the street, I'll make an official request for status change. :lol:

 

[MikeNewYork]

I think you can edit your profile yourself.

 

[engee30]

Done.

 

[engee30]

Wow, 'retired' from teaching at 39? People will assume I must've started in teaching when I was a kid. ;-)

 

[MikeNewYork]

But now you don't have to add "not a teacher" all the time. ;-)

 

[engee30]

Oh yes, that'll definitely prove useful, with my memory like a sieve.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Wow, 'retired' from teaching at 39? People will assume I must've started in teaching when I was a kid. ;-)

I think you are a former teacher instead of a retired one, but I am not a teacher.