Question

Texto
I think I have had a very interesting life. I'm 73 now and I don't work anymore. I was in the army for 51 years. I retired when I was 69. I have been to so many countries that I can't remember all of them. I've been to Australia six or seven times and to South Africa three times. I have also been once to Russia but I didn't like it at all: much too cold for me!

They say that love is the greatest thing and I agree. I've been married four times but never for more than five years. I don't think women really understand me!

I've never been on television, but I've been on the radio once. It was a programme about life in the military about twenty years ago. I met the Prime Minister on the same day. Actually, I've met a lot of famous people: members of the royal family, famous politicians and also famous cinema and television personalities. I've never met the American President though which is a pity.

Because I've travelled a lot, I've seen a lot of wonderful things and have also eaten and drunk some strange foods and drinks. I ate cat and rat in India and drank something called Mirto on a little island in Italy many years ago.

Questões

1-Explique o sentido da frase "I think I have had a very interesting life".

2-Comparando a sentença da questão anterior, por que na frase "I was in the army for 51 years", o verbo continua no simple past?

3-Os verbos "meet" e "travel" aparecem no simple past, mas suas formas são diferentes, por quê?

Pra hoje​

Answer 1

1) A frase destacada significa ''Eu acho que tenho tido uma vida interessante''. Quando usamos o ''present perfect'' estamos falando de uma combinação do passado com o presente.

Nessa combinação uma ação no passado reflete consequências no presente, por isso ele ainda acha que tem uma vida interessante.

2) ''Eu estive no exército por 51 anos'', quando se usa o simples past estamos nos referindo a ações que aconteceram e acabaram. Não refletem ações no presente, por isso ficou no passado.

3) O verbo travel se encontra no passado, por isso dobra o ''l'' e acrescenta o ''ed''.