In the sentence ‘It has been ten years since I left my hometown’, the use of ‘has been’ instead of ‘has passed’ is due to the structure and meaning of the sentence. Understanding the grammatical reasoning behind this choice is key to mastering English tenses and expressions. In this article, we’ll explore the difference between ‘has been’ and ‘has passed’ and why ‘has been’ is the correct choice here.
1. The Role of ‘has been’ in English
The phrase ‘has been’ is a form of the present perfect tense. It is used to describe a state or condition that started in the past and continues into the present. In this case, the sentence is indicating that the period of ‘ten years’ started when the speaker left their hometown and continues to the present moment. The structure emphasizes the ongoing nature of the time period.
2. Why Not ‘has passed’?
‘Has passed’ implies the completion of an event or action in the past. While it may seem appropriate in some contexts, it doesn’t convey the same sense of continuity. If you were to say, ‘Ten years have passed since I left my hometown,’ the focus would shift to the fact that the time has already elapsed, without emphasizing the present state or ongoing reflection. It would imply that the event (leaving the hometown) and the time period (ten years) are completely finished, rather than still affecting the present.
3. Present Perfect vs. Simple Past
The distinction between the present perfect and simple past tense is important here. ‘Has been’ links the past with the present, while ‘has passed’ would simply state that the event happened and the time has elapsed. The use of ‘has been’ in this sentence reflects the speaker’s connection to the ten years, showing that this time period is still relevant to them today.
4. Practical Examples of ‘Has Been’ vs. ‘Has Passed’
Let’s look at a few examples to further understand the difference: 1) ‘It has been five years since I moved to this city.’ Here, the use of ‘has been’ emphasizes that the time period of five years is still significant to the speaker today. 2) ‘Five years have passed since I moved to this city.’ This sentence focuses on the fact that five years have elapsed without stressing any ongoing connection to the present.
Conclusion
In summary, ‘has been’ is used in the sentence ‘It has been ten years since I left my hometown’ to show that the time period of ten years is ongoing and still relevant to the speaker. On the other hand, ‘has passed’ is used to describe something that has already been completed. Understanding these subtle differences in tense will help you improve your use of English grammar.
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