Questions tagged [present-perfect-progressive]
The present-perfect-progressive tag has no usage guidance.
70
questions
0
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0answers
22 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
24 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 '...
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0answers
23 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
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1answer
40 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
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2answers
42 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 ...
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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
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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
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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
67 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 ...
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0answers
24 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
31 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.
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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
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1answer
41 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
385 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
31 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
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1answer
145 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
40 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
37 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
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5answers
860 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
59 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
51 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
41 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
25 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
522 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
62 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
94 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
72 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
47 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
35 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
88 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
192 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
367 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
29 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
96 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
43 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
2k 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
486 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
71 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
429 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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
81 views
Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous with “throughout”
Which one is grammatical:
Throughout my career, I have been writing a diverse range of computer programs for multiple employers.
Throughout my career, I have written a diverse range of ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
present perfect simple or continuous
I can`t sleep because I have been watching a scary movie (shortly before, I am not watching it anymore). Does this sentence sound okay? Or do I have to use present perfect simple?
4
votes
1answer
120 views
present perfect continuous for an action recently stopped
The present perfect continuous can be used for an action that has just stopped, but has a present result, for example: I have been gardening (my hands are covered in soil) or it has been raining (the ...
2
votes
2answers
64 views
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
My grammar book states that we use Perfect Continuous to make an emphasis on the duration of the action, that is why that tense usually goes with words like how long, since and for.
However, there ...
1
vote
3answers
119 views
Does present perfect continuous imply that the action/event is ongoing if the duration is given?
In my grammar book the following examples for present perfect continuous (PPC) are given:
Example no. 1:
Is it raining?
No, but the ground is wet.
It's been raining. ( = It has been ... )
...
0
votes
0answers
488 views
Present Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous in the same sentence
Can I use both Present Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous in the same sentence?
Apparently the army had been trying to advance last night but has been stopped by the enemy.
The reasons:
Present ...
