Can 〜頃から be followed by ル形? or is タ形 mandatory?


Let's take the following examples:

  * 1(a). 子供の頃から、ずっとパリに行きたかった
  * 1(b). 子供の頃から、ずっとパリに行くのが夢でした
  * 2(a). 子供の頃から、パリに行きたかった
  * 2(b). 子供の頃から、パリに行くのが夢でした
  * 3(a). 子供の頃から、パリに行きたいです
  * 3(b). 子供の頃から、パリに行くのが夢です

From what I understand, if you use ずっと you have to stick with the タ形 because
ずっと implicitely implies 子供の頃から、（今まで）ずっとパリに行きたかった. But, this is not the case
when ずっと is not here in examples 2 and 3.

I would like to know whether examples 2(a), 2(b), 3(a), 3(b) are valid and
natural and if we can interpret them the following way: 2(a) and 2(b) implies
that from a young age the speaker wanted to go to Paris, however we don't know
whether he did or not go to Paris at this point; however 3(a) and 3(b) implies
that from a young age the speaker wants to go to Paris, and still has that
dream, since he has yet to make it come true.

Is it correct?




Only 3(a) sounds somewhat unnatural - by adding ずっと it sounds natural. Other
than this one, they all sound perfectly fine.

> I would like to know whether examples 2(a), 2(b), 3(a), 3(b) are valid and
> natural and if we can interpret them the following way: 2(a) and 2(b)
> implies that from a young age the speaker wanted to go to Paris, however we
> don't know whether he did or not go to Paris at this point; however 3(a) and
> 3(b) implies that from a young age the speaker wants to go to Paris, and
> still has that dream, since he has yet to make it come true.

Yes. This is correct. In 1/2(a/b), it might also mean "I wanted to, but
there's no hope anymore".

