Questions tagged [continuous]
The continuous tag has no usage guidance.
85
questions
1
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1answer
25 views
present continuous for a general statement: is it possible?
In fact i live in France but Scott (who lives in Australia) is such a nice guy that he is ok to let me use his address, so each record I buy in Australia is delivered to him, where they are waiting to ...
-2
votes
0answers
41 views
Past Simple vs Past Continuous - interrupted past. IS IT THOUGH?
I was always confused by the fact that they call it "interrupted". Let's look at the sentence "The sun was shining when I went out". Nothing is interrupted, is it? Or, say, in this sentence: "When I ...
1
vote
2answers
35 views
Why can't I use Present Perfect Continuous or vice versa Present Perfect forms in these sentences?
He has traveled so much recently that we have not managed to see each other much and I have met someone else. (why not "has been traveling")
I have been eating
fish and fruit since I got here. (...
1
vote
1answer
22 views
What is the best choice in this case :present perfect simple or continuous?
As I buy many records from Australia, I have an australian friend who collects all the records bought there (I live in France)
Today I received an email from my friend , he wanted to know if he could ...
0
votes
1answer
25 views
is past perfect continuous used in this case to emphasize the cause of something
We did not drink very much at all (one vodka each) but other young people had been drinking heavily all evening. Some of the dancers looked quite drunk.
I don't understand why it is past perfect ...
0
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0answers
9 views
Does present continuous fit in this case (is it the strongest way to express a refusal)
Someone asked me if I wanted to sell him a very rare book I own , can I answer to emphasize my refusal of selling it
"I am not selling it" is it stronger than "I am not going to sell it"
0
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1answer
16 views
still with a continuous tense, is it possible
However the covid is spreading fast , I still receive parcels from all over the world
However the covid is spreading fast , I am still receiving parcels from all over the world
I don't know which ...
0
votes
1answer
23 views
Have + Present Perfect Continuous
Doing some tasks in the textbook I stumbled across one sentence.
Here is a small dialog.
Do you have a headache ?
Yes, I've had a headache all morning.
Why do we use the present perfect tense ...
0
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0answers
23 views
Future meaning: “I'm seeing” vs “ I'll see” [duplicate]
Could you please explain to me why they use the Simple Future "I'll see" in Sentence 8? (in the attached picture).
I answered "I'm seeing" because i thought that "the meeting is set (tomorrow) and ...
0
votes
1answer
33 views
continuous in this case, does it fit?
Just would like to know if I can say
because of the cov19? my shop has been closing down for two days
I think it is not possible to use the continuous because what we emphasize here is also the ...
0
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0answers
32 views
problem with continuous
I can't understand why it's present continuous in this sentence:
I never call my friends if I'm driving a car
Why we can't just say - if I drive a car? what's the difference?
0
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1answer
37 views
Does a continuous tense fit with my sentence
For the past two days, I had been hearing some scary sounds after waking up and it frightened me.I'm glad today I have not heard them.
Is it possible to use the continuous tense as it happened more ...
0
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0answers
25 views
Does present continuous fit in this case
don't forget to precise (attention to ......) when you are writing/going to write/write the address
Is present continuous to express the future ok in this case or will it be better to use present ...
1
vote
1answer
51 views
How does Present Continuous [used in repetetive situations] sound to a native speaker?
We know that grammatically the Present Simple tense is used when we're speaking about some mundane, every day, usual situations (especially when we list them)
For example, every day I drink a cup ...
0
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0answers
76 views
What is the meaning of “would + be ~ing”
What is the meaning of "would + be ~ing"?
I always have thought that "would" means "imaginary past or future".
But, in this conversation. I'm a little bit confused.
M:well, if it ain't Miss ...
1
vote
1answer
218 views
What is the difference between “have interviewed” and “are interviewing” in this sentence?
Could you please explain the difference in meaning in the following sentences.
The detectives have interviewed two people this week.
The detectives are interviewing two people this week.
...
0
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2answers
39 views
Is it correct to say “Luke can't swim today, he is having a cold”?
Is the continuous form of "have" ok in the sentence "he's having a cold"? Or is it ONLY correct and possible to say "He has a cold"?
I can't figure out if in this case "have a cold" is a state verb ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Present perfect continuous for the verb to sign?
On the same exercise there is that sentence
He has been signing up for a historical tour to exactly these places
The reason of choosing the continuous form is that it is a temporary action.
But ...
1
vote
1answer
40 views
Will it be acceptable to use present perfect progressive in this example
He has swum daily for several years, but his shoulder has been bothering him recently
this is an answer of a test has swum
The reason of present perfect simple is that swimming has been done for ...
1
vote
1answer
579 views
I have been working there\I am working there
We can imagine such a situation that 2 months ago I got some special project which I have to be working on. Now I've been working on it. And I can say:
1) I am working on it
Pointing at my action ...
1
vote
2answers
174 views
Present Perfect and Present Continuous tenses in one sentence with only one subject
Are the tenses in this sentence correct:
We have placed order for required parts and waiting to get them.
0
votes
2answers
71 views
Passive Voice with continuous verbs
If I want to say:
She is hating him
I say:
She hates him
But should the same technique work with passive?
She hates him - he is hated by her
She is hating him - He is hated by her OR ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
progressive or simple
Is it possible to write this answer instead the one given in that test
My mother fell ill last week. I am making all the meals instead of her. She still does not feel well so she is seeing a doctor ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
Simple versus continuous tense in sentences
What is the difference between "When the teacher entered, the boys were all looking out the window." and "When the teacher entered, the boys all looked out the window."? Can someone please explain it? ...
1
vote
1answer
107 views
Can “stuck” be used with a continuous form?
Can I use "stuck" with a continuous form? In other words, shall I say about a parcel that has not arrived:
Hope it is not being stuck in the Christmas post
1
vote
2answers
55 views
Can I reduce this paragraph using the past continuous and the conjunction “When”?
Here's the paragraph:
I worked in the bank for a specific period of time in the past. One day my
wife and I knew each other. Of course, that day was during or within
that period of time.
Can ...
0
votes
1answer
21 views
Using non-continuous verbs in continuous form
I was learning non-continous verbs once again when I came across a site (I won't post a link to it, it's in russian). And it says that sometimes when we want to emphasize the action, we can use non-...
1
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2answers
58 views
When to use present continuous
If something is planned you have been imposed, can that be considered as an arrangment to use present continuous?
For example, you received an email saying there will be some work in 3 weeks along ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views
“Night falls”: why not continuous/progressive?
There is a series of "Nighty Night" videos for preschoolers about going to bed, e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqRDEV6BnAU.
All of them begin with the sentence:
Night falls.
I wonder why ...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
Can we say the earth is moving around the sun?
I'm learning English with text books and it says the present progressive form means an action or event taking place at the present time and the action or event has limited duration.
It is truth that ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
is the verb “list” a stative verb?
I saw this example on Cambridge Dictionary
The company has been listed on the stock exchange for 35 years.
My question is that:
is the verb "list" a stative verb?
If it was, then it could not be ...
0
votes
1answer
31 views
present continuous for a future plan that is only involving you
Can we use present continuous for a future event even it involves only yourself
If you are a student can you say I am working tomorrow or is it better to say I am going to work tomorrow as only the ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
Progressive tense with a fixed date
Rhythm will be closing permanently from 5pm on 21st December. Many thanks to all our customers for your support over the years, for our market stall, monthly mail-order catalogue, and online. If you ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
What is the best choice in this case past continuous or simple
While she was driving to work every day she was listening or listened to languages CDs
In the test the answer is listened because the action is completed now: she does not listen to these cds ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
wrong subtitle in a film
In the film "Basse Normandie" of Simon Regiani and Patricia Mazuy, I saw this subtitle, is it possible
I have been working while I wait for you
I think it should be:
while I was waiting or ...
1
vote
1answer
201 views
was looking or looked in this sentence
When I woke up this morning, she was sleeping on my bed and she looked very happy!
The sentence is about a female cat who was ill.
Why isn't was looking (at this precise moment she was looking)? ...
1
vote
1answer
160 views
it is possible to combine present perfect continuous and past perfect continuous in a sentence?
Can we describe a continuous action after/before another continuous action in the same sentence using different continuous tenses?
For instance something like that:
Before I have been reading ...
0
votes
1answer
69 views
Why the continous form in this answer
I’ve been reading online that people who purchased that record have not received it so I’m assuming he is being slow to ship
this is an email I received: my enquiry was about a record I bought but ...
0
votes
2answers
34 views
Can I use a continuous form in this case
I would like to say that since we have been here (about one month now) it keeps raining a little but every day
Can I use the continuous form
It has been raining a little since we have been here
3
votes
1answer
31 views
Why was having and not had: “he was having trouble finding the right packaging” vs “he had trouble finding the right packaging”
On the sleeve reissue of the Chris Bell single "I am the cosmos" (record store day 2018) I found these sentences:
A tape of the recording arrived in the mail several weeks after the phone call;it ...
0
votes
1answer
474 views
usually and present continuous
It is not the thousand beers you had
there is something in your eye
which usually you are trying to hide
blaming the girls dancing around
why is "usually" following by gerund? it ...
1
vote
1answer
289 views
Can sometimes be used with a continuous tense?
Can "sometimes" be used with progressive
Sometimes I drink beer
Sometimes I am driving very fast
With a continuous tense does it mean that the event happens less often than with a simple tense
1
vote
1answer
103 views
Can we use past continuous for a finished action?
There was a huge, shiny spaceship just above our heads. It did not move . It was pulling us off the ground. Seconds later we were inside it.
http://www.english-grammar.at/online_exercises/tenses/...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
Do both sentences have the same meaning
Chris did not tell the truth when he was speaking to Martin
vs
Chris was not telling the truth when he spoke to Martin.
Do both sentences have the same meaning ?Which sentence is the best?
I ...
0
votes
2answers
263 views
Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous - In 2016 I had been going to France for five years
Can anyone explain to me why this sentence is incorrect?
In 2016 I had gone to France for five years.
Why it should be had been going?
Thanks!
2
votes
1answer
779 views
Why “wrote” and not “was writing”?
8 May - I began to fear as I wrote in this book that I was getting
too diffuse*; but now I am glad that went into detail from the first, for there is something so strange about this place and all in ...
3
votes
1answer
55 views
progressive tense for completed actions
This is based on a true story that happened many, many years ago in Scotland. One day Mr Clark was walking home with a smile on his face. He was carrying something very valuable in his hand: tickets ...
1
vote
1answer
148 views
Can “happen to” be followed by a Present Progressive form?
Or does it always take an infinitive form?
Ex.: Is "I happen to be doing this at the moment" correct or should you say "I happen to do this at the moment"?
3
votes
1answer
148 views
“Past perfect progressive” vs “past progressive”- Can we use the adverbial phrases of time with past progressive?
I know one of the main differences between past perfect progressive and past progressive is the fact that the latter can be used when the duration of an event or its exact timing is not important to ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Continuous in this case
For over 20 years he has led seminars and courses on relationships and communication, and he has appeared on television shows.
why don't we use continuous because it is up to now? Is it because 20 ...
