Unfinished time – up to now
Present perfect for Italians is always the most difficult tense to work with, especially when ‘translating’ such common expressions as:
“Non la vedo da 6 anni.”
“Lei viene qui ogni mese da 10 anni.”
“Ha questo problema da tanto oramai.”
“Sono 6 mesi che aspetto questa lettera.”
“Vivo a Roma da 1997.”
“Lavoro qui da 3 anni.”
In Italian it is correct to use the present tense in these examples. In English, unfortunately, no.
Let’s look at the example “Lavoro qui da 3 anni.”
If you simply say “Lavoro qui” (“I work here.”) then this is a long term fact and we would also use the present tense in English. However, if you then say “da 3 anni” (“for 3 years” or “since 2009”) you are talking about a period of time that started 3 years ago and is still continuing into the present – the period is UNFINISHED. We then need to use the present perfect tense “I’ve been working / I have worked here for 3 years/since 2009.”
In English, the Italian examples used above all indicate actions that started in the past and are still continuing – up to now in the present – UNFINISHED past actions. Therefore, they would be said in this way:
“I haven’t seen her for 6 years.”
“She has been coming here every month for 10 years.”
“She has had this problem for a long time now.”
“I have been expecting this letter for 6 months.”
“I’ve lived in Rome for since 1997.”
Enjoy learning!
