It is ~ since VS It has been ~ since

[hirashin]

Hello, native English speakers,

I think both (a) and (b) would be used, but which would be more common in your area?
(a) It is three years since my father died.
(b) It has been three years since my father died.

Thanks in advance.

Hirashin

 

[mdchachi]

Maybe both are ok but I would only use (b), never (a).

 

[Majestic]

(b) for me as well.

 

[johnnyG]

Personally, I prefer 'has been' (since I'm north american), but I've googled "It is three years since" and have seen that there is quite a lot of discussion about this--this link seems succinct: Advanced English Grammar: A Linguistic Approach - Ilse Depraetere, Chad Langford - Google Books

 

[WonkoTheSane]

Maybe both are ok but I would only use (b), never (a).

Same here.

 

[hirashin]

Thanks for your help, mdchachi, Majestic, johnnyG, and WonkoTheSane.

I'd like to know how British people view this.

I suppose that British people often use (a).

 

[Lothor]

I'm British, and I'd say (b) but I don't think there's anything wrong with (a).

 

[hirashin]

Thanks for the help, Lothor.

 

[MjwWorkshop]

Definitely B.

A is probably used because it is simple and sounds close to B which is actually correct

 

[hirashin]

Thanks for the help, MjwWorkshop. Are you American?

 

[johnnyG]

Another way to view the two versions. First, contract "it" with "is" (how you'd probably hear these in practice ( < another economy of speech)):

(a) It's three years since my father died.
(b) It's been three years since my father died.

Next, consider that (a) simply looks like it is using simple present. What (a) vs. (b) might be showing is an economy of speech--that you don't have to say what will be understood anyway:

(a) It's been three years since my father died.
(b) It's been three years since my father died.

From this angle, (a) is simply an abbreviated, more economical way to say (b). It appears to be: simple present + period of time + since, but on a deeper level it is really (a shortened) present perfect.

Is it correct to look at these two sentences this way? Given the grammar book that I linked to, above, probably not. But looking at (a) in this way may help a student understand why simple present can be okay here.