Questions tagged [continuous]
The continuous tag has no usage guidance.
71
questions
0
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0answers
33 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
58 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
votes
2answers
29 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
40 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
32 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
301 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
67 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
39 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
21 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
67 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
49 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
18 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
vote
1answer
43 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
66 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
41 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
47 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
42 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
82 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
101 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
32 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
29 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
257 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
132 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
64 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
1answer
28 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
232 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
600 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
46 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
137 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
120 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
41 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
198 views
progressive form with stay
Tom has got an important job to finish by the end of the month. He
has stayed at work until after 10 o'clock three days this week already.
Why not has been staying as it is ongoing action is it ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Progressive tense, progressive aspect, continuing aspect or continuous tense?
I have heard four different names:
Progressive tense
Progressive aspect
Continuing aspect
Continuous tense
Which is the grammatically correct name approved by most grammar books and dictionaries?...
0
votes
1answer
54 views
Continuous for future arrangement
I was supposed to be getting copies. I wrote the label when these were first announced asking for 30 something copies and he wrote back that he would contact me when they were ready.
Did the author ...
4
votes
3answers
426 views
Is “supposed to play” semantically different from “supposed to be playing”?
Is there any meaning difference between these two sentences?
I was supposed to play.
I was supposed to be playing.
1
vote
1answer
610 views
“I am not agreeing with Hitler”
Do I need to add that I am not agreeing with Hitler when describing his opinion about the Jews and Germany?
Source: non-idiomatic meaning of "in terms of"
I was going through some my ...
3
votes
1answer
511 views
All they do is 'get/getting' groceries
This is going to be silly but I know some people who don't really leave the house for anything but groceries. It's impossible to hang out with them because they just sit around at home and the only ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
Watch you do/doing it [simple present or continuous?]
Is it grammatically possible to use both, the continuous form and simple present in sentences that use the pattern as in the title?
Example sentences:
I want to watch you wash/washing the car.
...
1
vote
2answers
28k views
What were you doing/have you been doing [does one have a negative connotation?]
I have been debating with my wife (she is American) over the correct use of each phrase. She doesn't know anything about grammar and also grew up with a lot of immigrants so she suggested I just post ...
1
vote
2answers
195 views
Conditionals: continuous tense in if-clause
There are 5 types of conditionals, and I haven't found any with continuous tense in 'if' clause.
Suppose there is a long radio show. Eventually the presenter says something like 'the secret code is ...
1
vote
1answer
753 views
past continues confusion [I heard you say/saying that] [I had him do/doing that]
I'll try to keep it short this time. There are certain phrases I still don't understand how to use.
For example:
'Last night when we ate dinner, I heard you say something rude'
or
'I had ...
-1
votes
1answer
65 views
could the second conditional be like this?
From a film subtitle:
"What would've happenned if you were a few minutes later, Hani?"
I think that 'What would have happened if you had been a few minutes later,Hani?'is right?
I think this is ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
Should I use the past simple here?
I'm trying to write a paragraph in present continuous tense. Are these sentences correct?
Should I use the past simple in stop working?
The bell is ringing. We stop working. We are very happy ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
Must there be ONLY Present Perfect Continuous
We normally use the present perfect continuous for this:
She has been living in Liverpool all her life.
Why can't we use:
She has lived in Liverpool all her life.
Still, if we do can, what is ...
3
votes
1answer
930 views
use of done with verbs with -ing
So, in a test I wrote the following sentence:
The city looked horrible after the hurricane was done destroying it.
I was told that the usage of "done" in here is incorrect, but I have no idea why. ...
