Use of tenses - Present Perfect
So here I have some sentences and I'm not quite sure which one is correct... or are they both correct to use? Is there any situation in which I cannot use one of them?
1. I always wanted to become an artist OR I have always wanted to become an artist ?
(I would use Present Perfect here because that will mean I still want to become an artist, while Past Simple would tell us it is a past wish, which we no longer want to happen?)
2. I live in Ireland for 5 years OR I have lived in Ireland for 5 years ?
(This one got me really confused. I still live in Ireland, so how can I say that it is 5 years now since I came here?)
So, can someone please explain it to me in a way that is easy to understand? I looked into my English textbooks but they got me even more confused.
Search from various English teachers...
Answers · 6
2
#1. Both are correct. It depends on the context.
#2. Only the second one is correct.
2
1. Both are correct and can be used even if you want to become an artist now.
2. first one is wrong and only the second one is correct. I live in Ireland is self sufficient and means that you are living there now. it does not need a time durations since it is only telling you what you do.
You can use , I have been living in Ireland for 5 years if you want to say that it has been 5 years since you moved to Ireland.
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