Clarifying the Grammatical Correctness of 'I Have Seen You Since Last Friday'

The sentence 'I have seen you since last Friday' can be a bit confusing when considering its grammatical structure, particularly when compared to alternatives like 'I have not seen you since last Friday'. Let's break down the nuances of this sentence and explore its usage in various contexts.

Parsing the Sentence

The core of the issue revolves around the usage of the present perfect continuous tense (I have seen) with the phrase 'since last Friday'. This combination can create situations where the sentence might be interpreted differently.

Standard Interpretation: 'I Have Not Seen You Since Last Friday'

While it is perfectly acceptable to say 'I have not seen you since last Friday', the sentence 'I have seen you since last Friday' can be analyzed in a few different ways depending on the broader context.

In a context where you might emphasize that the last time you saw someone was last Friday, the negative aspect is clear. For example, someone might say, 'I have not seen you since last Friday' to indicate that there has been a break in their relationship or interaction.

Rephrasing for Clarity

When you want to express that you have been seeing someone since last Friday, it is more appropriate to use the present perfect continuous tense. For instance, 'I have been seeing you since last Friday' conveys a continuous action that has been ongoing.

Consider the scenario where you are explaining that you have been in contact with someone or have come across them regularly. For example:

A: Do you like my new haircut? B: Yes, it really suits you. I thought so when I saw you the other day. A: What do you mean? You haven’t seen me since last Friday and I had my hair cut on Monday. B: I have seen you since last Friday: I saw you on Wednesday. But maybe you didn’t see me; I was on a bus and you were outside the Post Office.

Evaluation of Alternatives

If you are trying to say that you have not seen someone since last Friday, then 'I have not seen you since last Friday' is the correct grammatical form. It accurately conveys that the interaction discontinued last Friday.

Using 'Have Not Seen'

The phrase 'I have not seen you' is commonly used when:

Emphasizing An Ongoing Absence: 'I have not seen you since last Friday, so I need to catch up soon.' Reporting a Recent Event: 'I have not seen you since last Friday, but I heard you're doing well.'

Clarifying Different Verbs

It is crucial to understand the type of verbs used in different tenses. Verbs like 'see', 'hear', and 'feel' are common examples of non-conclusive verbs, which typically do not take the continuous tense. This is why using 'I have seen you since last Friday' is correct and makes sense in certain contexts.

For example, consider:

I have seen you since last Friday. (Correct) I have been seeing you since last Friday (Incorrect).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the sentence 'I have seen you since last Friday' is grammatically correct but might be confused with the negative form 'I have not seen you since last Friday' without proper context. It is important to choose the appropriate tense based on the intended meaning and context.