English Grammar

Verb: use of tenses

User since 2008
Posts: 588

18 Sept. 2008

In my today's grammar revision I found the two sentences:
1. I went to Japan last year.
2. I have been to Japan in the last year. (not: I was...)
and the explanation: we must use the present perfect to describe the unspecified time. But in my opinion "last year" and "in the last year" are very similiar. What do you mean about it?

2 comments

Fugendichter
User since 2008
Posts: 588
18 Sept. 2008

In my today's grammar revision I found the two sentences:
1. I went to Japan last year.
2. I have been to Japan in the last year. (not: I was...)
and the explanation: we must use the present perfect to describe the unspecified time. But in my opinion "last year" and "in the last year" are very similiar. What do you mean about it?
In my today's grammar revision I found the two sentences: 1. I went to Japan last year. 2. I have been to Japan in the last year. (not: I was...) and the explanation: we must use the present perfect to describe the unspecified time. But in my opinion "last year" and "in the last year" are very similiar. What do you mean about it?
AhQ ['a: kiu]
User since 2006
Posts: 2715
18 Sept. 2008

I don't share your opinion, Gwendo.
"last year" is a specific moment in the passing of years.
"in the last year" refers to an undefined moment in the last year, some time during the last year, a moment that is not precised if not that it occurred during the year.
I don't share your opinion, Gwendo. "last year" is a specific moment in the passing of years. "in the last year" refers to an undefined moment in the last year, some time during the last year, a moment that is not precised if not that it occurred during the year.

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