Expert: Dan Smith - 4/25/2006

Question
I, a businessperson working for a Japanese company in Tokyo, use English quite often and sometimes I am not sure about English usage. Would you please advise which is correct in the following sentences:

1.  How long had you (waited/been waiting) before your number was called?

2.  Please return the manual when you (finish/have finished) reading it.

3.  If you (do not receive/have not received) all of the pages, please call ...

4.  How many years will you (have worked/have been working) for the company when you retire next spring.

Thank you,


Answer
In all these examples, both alternatives are correct and except for example 3 have identical meanings.

In example three, both are correct, but you would choose one or the other in different circumstances.

"If you do not receive" would be an instruction about what to do if something does not happen in the future.

"If you have not received" is a similar instruction about what to do if something has not happened that should already have happened.

If your sentence reads, "If, by the time you receive this e-mail, you...."

you can choose either alternative and have them be correct, because you have specified a time parameter within which action must be taken.

Hope this helps.