Questions tagged [present-perfect-progressive]
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76
questions
-1
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1answer
25 views
A question about focus
Let`s say I have redecorated my living room, it is finished and it looks nice. Someone comments on it, says it looks great.
Is it possible for me to say: "yes, I have been redecorating", even though ...
1
vote
2answers
66 views
It is only that last year that I've… vs It has only been that last year that I've
Which is correct, and if both are correct, which one is better and what would be the difference in meaning?
It is only that last year that I've been taking it seriously.
It has only been that ...
4
votes
1answer
403 views
They do something for 20 years. Isn't the phrase grammatically wrong?
I heard Matt Damon say:
Anyway, for 20 years now people ask, what happened to Loki at the end
of Dogma?
How do you explain the usage of Present Simple here with 20 years? Could you reference to ...
2
votes
2answers
51 views
Why Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous? Sentences are added
thanks for paying attention to my request. There are four sentenses that drive me crazy :) The sentences and the keys are provided by a book for a CAE exam preparation.
1) She was breathing hard as ...
1
vote
1answer
46 views
Passive voice present perfect tense vs present perfect continuous tense
introduce
There are several job oriented courses that have been being introduced in the universities’ curriculum.
or
There are several job oriented courses that have been introduced in ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
nail clippings in the sink: has cut or has been cutting?
If you find nail clippings in the sink or on the floor of the bathroom at work for example, what would you say:
someone has cut their nails at work or someone has been cutting their nails?
I am ...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
completed vs ongoing action
Is my understanding correct?
I have eaten at three restaurants since I arrived two weeks ago. From the moment I arrived until now I have been to three restaurants. These are completed actions and ...
2
votes
2answers
32 views
'Have you ever..' question with 'go swimming/cycling/rollerblading…' phrases
There is an exercise in our English textbook where I should ask the question "have you ever...?" about my partner's experience. The partner should answer using a set of expressions and one of them is '...
0
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0answers
34 views
How do we know when to use present perfect simple, present perfect continuous or past simple?
I have read a lot about the three of them. There are certainly a lot of rules on their usages. However, what I'm concerned about the most is how I can determine when to use one over the others. So I ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous with 'since'
Can we combine the present perfect continuous tense and the present perfect tense by using 'since'? For example:
I have not been going to the gym since I have come back from overseas.
The ...
0
votes
2answers
215 views
Is it right to say “I have started to watch” or better to say “I have been watching”?
Here are my sentences
I have been watching football since 2010 World Cup and i liked players like Drogba, Lampard and after World Cup i have started to watch Premier League.
Is it right to say "I ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
which is more common to use?
There is a text book example that says "Why are you so sweaty? I've been cutting the grass." Because the sweating is a consequence of the action of cutting.
Can I say: "Because I just cut the grass?...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous with the verb “find”
Which version of these two sentences is correct?
He has been finding it difficult to adjust to his new school.
He has found it difficult to adjust to his new school.
0
votes
1answer
26 views
present perfect with “for”: For almost a century, researchers have argued over this question
How do the meanings of the following sentences differ:
For almost a century, researchers have argued over this question.
For almost a century, researchers have been arguing over this question.
I ...
0
votes
1answer
105 views
“Have you been swimming?” and “have you just swum?”
If I meet my friend as he is leaving the swimming pool, I know I can ask: Have you been swimming?
But can I also say "have you just swum?" instead of the question above?
If so, do the two ...
0
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0answers
26 views
Have you <been working> <worked> hard?
a. You look tired. Have you been working hard?
b. You look tired. Have you worked hard?
My book (Grammar in use Intermediate) says that "a" is correct. And my answer was also "a".
But I want to ...
0
votes
1answer
45 views
the difference between the present perfect simple and continuous - She's been playing tennis since she was eight
She's been playing tennis since she was eight.
Does the meaning of the sentence above change if I use the present perfect simple as below?
She's played tennis since she was eight.
0
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0answers
14 views
present perfect continuous - a finished action or an ongoing action
I’ve been working in the garden.
I’ve been reading your book.
I’ve been writing the Politics essay.
When studying the present perfect continuous, I have learned that the tense can describe ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
a finished activity in the recent past - present perfect simple vs present perfect continuous
I have been studying about 'present perfect continuous' and found out that we use the tense to talk about a finished activity in the recent past. (source)
e.g., I’ve just been cleaning the car. (The ...
0
votes
1answer
664 views
“have been playing” or “have played”?
Which phrase is more grammatically correct?
1) I have been playing cricket for last 2 years.
Or
2) I have played cricket for last 2 years.
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Present Perfect Continuous and Future Simple - quiz contemplation
I bumped into that quiz, and I'm quite confused by these two questions' answers. I would appreciate any clarifications.
A) Jane talks on the phone. Bob has been talking on the phone for an
hour. ...
0
votes
1answer
183 views
Has it rained/been raining at all since?
I want to know if rain occurred occasionally in France since the last time I went there, which is February. I would ask " Has it rained at all in France since February?". Is this correct?
Could I ...
0
votes
2answers
45 views
Which tense is more correct to use here in this example - Present Perfect Simple/Progressive
I (live) ____ in London since 1994.
Which tense is more correct to use here in this example; A) Present Perfect Simple or B) Present Perfect Continuous?
Answer A): I have lived in London since ...
0
votes
2answers
38 views
has lived for vs has build for
We have two sets of sentences:
1.a) I have been living here for 3 months.
1.b) I have lived here for 3 months.
and
2.a) I have been building the house for 3 months.
2.b) I have built ...
14
votes
5answers
1k views
Why can't we say “I have been having a dog”?
So I can say "I have been playing the guitar since I was 6" but "I have been having a dog since I was 6" sounds incorrect. Why?
3
votes
3answers
61 views
why is the present perfect used in this sentence?
This is from a novel:
"We have walked along the beach and are now approaching the prom".
Why not use "we have been walking along the beach?"
It is recent and it conveys duration, so to me the ...
1
vote
2answers
52 views
Which is the better choice here? Present perfect continuous or past simple?
Today is Sunday and I don't feel well because I have been drinking three days in a row: Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The drinking has stopped, but I can still feel its effect, so present perfect ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progessive?
How long _______ there? (work/you)
Which tense to use. A) Present Perfect Simple, or B) Present Perfect Progressive?
A) How long have you worked there?
B) How long have you been working there?
1
vote
1answer
26 views
Equality of continuous and perfect tenses (in a certain context)
Would they be both correct and equal in the same context (just to mention the fact) if I said TODAY:
(1)It has been raining all day.
(2)It is raining all day.
Would they be both correct and ...
1
vote
1answer
746 views
“I haven't swum since” vs “I haven't been swimming since”
In the following text:
The last time I went swimming was when we were in Spain.
I haven't been swimming since we were in Spain.
Why is present perfect progressive tense used in the second ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Present Perfect Continuous VS Simple
I think, I can use Present Perfect Continuous(as it can express repeated action too) as well as Present Perfect Simple and they have similar meanings in this case. Am I right?
(I got confused ...
0
votes
1answer
95 views
Why are different tenses used in these similar situations?
I have the following (similar) examples:
My mouth tastes like I have vomited.
My throat feels like I have been yelling at a concert.
Is there a grammatical reason why one uses the present perfect ...
0
votes
1answer
121 views
One of the most interesting projects I worked on in the past couple of years (tense choice)
I want to tell someone about one of the most interesting projects I was involved in during the past couple of years:
One of the most interesting projects I worked on in the past couple of years [is ...
2
votes
2answers
56 views
When are the present perfect simple and continuous interchangeable, and when are they not?
Let me give some examples to give you guys a good idea of my question.
My friend says that a sentence like this sounds weird.
I have built my house for 2 years.
He says I should say this.
...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Present perfect progressive VS present perfect simple
I've encountered this sentence in my Cambridge grammar handbook:
How long ___(you/have) that bad cough?
I used Present perfect continuous while there is mentioned only Present perfect simple in ...
0
votes
2answers
109 views
The use of the present continuous tense instead of the present perfect continuous tense
In a video I was watching the person said:
I am working on my new book and hope to complete it soon.
But at that moment, it is obvious, he wasn't writing it; he explaining phrasal verbs. Wouldn't ...
4
votes
3answers
235 views
Why is my hair wet?
I have finished washing my hair and it is still wet. Why is my hair wet?
Because I have washed it. (focus is on the final result)
Because I have been washing it. (focus is on the action)
To ...
3
votes
2answers
402 views
Can Present Perfect Continuous and Present Continuous have the same meaning?
According to https://englishsentences.com/present-tense/
b. Present Continuous
The present continuous tense describes actions
and/or events that are currently happening or going on now; in ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous
What is the difference between the following 2 sentences? Or are they same?
He has walked for an hour.
He has been walking for an hour.
Is it that in 1, he may not walk now and in 2, he is walking ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
past continuous or present perfect continuous
If I play football since I was eight years old and still I am playing football I should say I have been playing football since I was eight.
But if I started playing football when I was eight and then ...
1
vote
2answers
109 views
present perfect continuous to complain?
If someone has spilt coffee over my couch, can I say "who has been spilling coffee over my couch?!", using the present perfect continuous to complain?
2
votes
1answer
2k views
It's the first time he has driven or been driving a car
I had always known that we generally use the present perfect simple for things that we do for the first time. Here is a classic example from the English Grammar in Use self-study book by Cambridge ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
“Was never heard from ever again since” and should I be using Present Perfect Continuous
Let's say we have someone of whom we've never heard of ever again since some event.
Do I say:
"And he was never heard from ever again since" or "He has never been heard from ever again since".
The ...
1
vote
1answer
3k views
“have been reading” vs “have read”
Is that valid to say:
I've been reading 3 books this week.
Is this sentence grammatically correct?, I know that it is better to say I've read 3 books this week, But Is it grammatical to say the ...
0
votes
1answer
625 views
have been working or worked?
It is 10 o'clock in the evening and I am tired because I had a busy day at work. (I finished work at 6 o'clock.) Can I say
I'm tired because I've been working hard all day
or do I have to say
...
0
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0answers
50 views
Am I criticizing by saying this?
If I visit someone in the middle of the day and they look like they have just woken up, can I say, "Have you been sleeping?" or does that sound like I am criticizing? Should I just say, “Were you ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
what I have been reading vs what I have read
Can anyone explain to me why several book review sites are called "what I have been reading" when they describe books the reviewer has read? why aren't they called "what I have read"?
1
vote
1answer
76 views
present perfect continuous or present perfect simple?
This is from a website:
recently visited pages, easily find again pages you have been reading.
Would it be possible to say: "pages you have read" without any difference in meaning?
0
votes
2answers
495 views
“I read your diary” vs. “I have been reading your diary”
If someone says: "I am sorry, but I read your diary", it means that person read the entire diary, right? Wouldn't it be better to say "I have been reading your diary" if they want to express they have ...
1
vote
1answer
55 views
present progressive vs present perfect progressive
This week I am looking after my neighbor's cat.
This is a temporary situation, which is happening only this week, and I am emphasizing that fact.
This week I have been looking after my ...
