Glasgow based duo Happy Meals have spent the last year since the release of their debut Apéro touring the globe, experimenting with new sounds and forms, and are now ready to introduce Fruit Juice.
The use of present perfect with the last year seems strange, last year is past it is finished and have spent the action begins in the past and continues up to now.
Maybe the present perfect is used because their new release has just come out
or will come out soon.
Can somebody explain me why?
Best Answer
The phrase "last year" and "the last year" do not have the same meaning.
Last year refers to the year whose number is one previous (2016->2015).
The last year refers to the twelve-month period stretching backwards from the current month.
So the last year touches upon (and includes) the present. That's why the present perfect is used there.