Learn English – What’s the difference between “has lived since” and “had lived since”

grammar

First Sentence:

1. She had lived with the family since she was born.

Second Sentence:

2. She has lived with the family since she was born.

What's the difference between them?

look at these two sentences:

3. There have been many great inventions or things that changed the way we live.

4. There are many great inventions or things that changed the way we live.

What's the difference?

Best Answer

If you can understand the difference between "up until then" and "up until now" you will understand how these tenses work.

  1. Christina had lived with the family since she was born.

UP UNTIL THEN
The speaker of these words is looking backwards in time at Christina's life. The action extends forward from a point in the past to another later point in the past.

  1. Christina has lived with the family since she was born.

UP UNTIL NOW
The speaker of these words is looking at Christina's life as it extends from the past forward into the present.

P.S. Examples:

On her twelfth birthday, Christina was given a puppy. She had never cared for a pet before and was not sure how much it should be given to eat.

Christina is taking her calculus final exam today. She has studied diligently all semester.

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