1 question, The metal........

**Fortune** · 11-13-2002, 07:50 AM

Hi all,
I have 1 question and need your help.

[The metal] aluminum [has been][first] isolated [early] in the nineteenth century.

Thanks

**vertical_horizon** · 11-13-2002, 02:27 PM

I think there is no reason to use the present perfect tense here. The time is clear so past simple is required.

B: 'has been' --> 'was'.

Maybe the author of this qs wants to have a trick here. Readers may assume this is the fomula 'It is the first time that + present perfect clause'

.

HTH

!

phuong

**Lord** · 11-13-2002, 06:09 PM

Yes, I think answer is B too.
But , is it ok when we use "the" , "metal aluminum" here ,I think, is in general.

**Fortune** · 11-13-2002, 09:39 PM

WOW, I got it.Thank you very much.

**Tho** · 11-13-2002, 09:42 PM

Originally posted by Fortune

Hi all,
I have 1 question and need your help.

[The metal] aluminum [has been][first] isolated [early] in the nineteenth century.
Thanks

B, "in the nineteeth century" tells us.