Questions tagged [present-perfect-progressive]
The present-perfect-progressive tag has no usage guidance.
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PRESENT PERFECT/PPC for actions with duration
Context: My friend's come to visit me and I am showing him my new country house (which I am still working on in my free time, haven't finished it yet)
As far as I understand,
I've worked on this ...
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I work / I'm working / I've been working
Someone asks us what our job is.
What's the difference between these three answers?
I'm a secretary. I work in a dental office.
I'm a secretary. I'm working in a dental office.
I'm a secretary. I've ...
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Which Perfect aspect should be used: "I’ve read / been reading this page three times already…”? [closed]
I’ve been reading this page three times already, but I still don’t understand it.
Or
I’ve read this page three times already, but I still don’t understand it.
Is the action in progress or is it ...
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"I have taught Italian for three years." vs "I have been teaching Italian for three years"
If you still teach Italian at school, which would be better?
A) I have taught Italian for three years.
B) I have been teaching Italian for three years.
If they are both fine, is there any difference?
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can I use "own" in progressive?
I ...... this car for more than ten years.
a) have owned
b) have been owning
c) owned
d) will own
So what's the difference between a,b and c
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I have been reading a lot of/several books since last month
I think sentence 1 is incorrect, but 2 is correct (though I doubt 2); 3 is incorrect, but 4 is correct. Do you think so? I can't explain the reason. Can you please tell me why?
I have been reading ...
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I've been running three times a week
I read this conversation in an English textbook. I don't think the italicized part is correct. I've had an impression that present perfect continuous can't go with times or frequency.
A: How have you ...
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It's been over 20 years since John has lived in that country
I've just come from a closed thread, without seeing a clear answer (since John has died). I don't know if I can discuss this question here.
It's been over 20 years since I've lived on that street*
...
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"just" in present perfect continuous
When someone says these following sentences without the word "just", I think we don't know for sure whether the action is still ongoing or has just stopped.
But when they add the word "...
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John has "persuaded" me to keep off alcohol
John has persuaded me to keep off alcohol many times in the past year, but I haven't decided yet to give it up.
In the sentence presented above, is persuade used correctly? I don't think so, because &...
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usage of memorize in Present perfect
George is doing his homework today. He needs to memorize 30 French words.
Is the verb "memorize" used correctly in the following two sentences?
George has memorized 30 French words for an ...
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I've remembered to be faithful
Do the first pair of sentences mean the same? Here, remember means to keep in mind.
I've remembered to be faithful to my wife.
I've been remembering to be faithful to my wife.
Do the second pair of ...
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I've been needing vs needed to see you this morning
Do the two sentences have the same meaning?
In fact, I've been needing to see you this morning, but I didn't want to wake you up.
In fact, I've needed to see you this morning, but I didn't want to ...
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it's been burned for two hours
The farmer has been away from home for many days. This morning, his cottage suddenly began to burn. Up to now, it's been burning for two hours.
Can I change this boldface sentence to the following ...
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Tom has been wanting a computer for two years
Tom has been wanting a computer for two years. His dad has now decided to buy one for him next week.
Can I change the first sentence to
Tom has wanted a computer for two years.
or
Tom has often ...
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How long have the eggs been being boiled?
I guess this conversation might be unusual. But does the wife's question make sense to you? Let's suppose they don't have a timer.
Wife: How long have the eggs been boiling?
Husband: Six minutes.
Wife:...
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he's been taking a shower for ten minutes
I think "shower" can be used with present perfect continuous. Can "take a shower" work the same way? Probably not, because "take a shower" means to start a shower.
He's ...
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I've been travelling/I've travelled for 4 hours
It is now 1 p.m and I've been travelling for 4 hours and have just arrived. The journey was quite exhausting so I say: "I'm tired because I've just been travelling for 4 hours.
At 4 p.m I'm still ...
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Which tense should be used for telling short event in the past while another ongoing event is happening?
I want to tell something that I did in the past, while doing something else, and it (the second activity) is still ongoing. Suppose I want to text my friend and at this time I'm still eating.
'Check ...
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Which of this usage is correct 'have not been understood' or 'have not been understanding'? [duplicate]
They have not been understood the problem till now.
They have not been understanding the problem till now.
Which of this is correct?
I think I can't use 'understanding' because 'to understand' can't ...
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"the question has arisen more than once" "the question has been arising more than once" [closed]
Is it more correct to say "the question has arisen more than once" or "the question has been arising more than once".
Or maybe it's much better to say: "the question arose&...
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I have worked on these five projects since Monday
I give a few situations below:
a) Suppose today is Saturday, and I started working on all of my five projects simultaneously on Monday. I continuously worked on them for 5 days and today I might ...
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Present Perfect vs Present Perfect continuous tense differences
What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences?
He has been studying in the same class for the last three years.
and
He has studied in the same class for the last three years.
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I keep putting it off. / I've kept putting it off. / I've been putting it off. (it = a dental appointment) Which sounds most natural in AmE?
"I need to make an appointment to see the dentist, but I've been putting it off."
I'm pretty sure the above sentence is grammatically correct, but does it sound more natural (particularly in ...
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He has been having headaches for the past ten days
What is the difference between:
He has been having headaches for the past ten days.
He has had headaches for the past ten days.
Is the main verb "have" of sentences (1) and (2) a ...
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Patients have been having symptoms such as nausea
Patients have been having symptoms such as nausea and fatigue. (dynamic main verb "have")
Patients have had symptoms such as nausea and fatigue. (dynamic main verb "have")
I have ...
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I've taken the dog for a walk
(1) "I've taken the dog for a walk."
Where have you been?'
(2) "I've been taking the dog for a walk."
What is the difference between (1) and (2)? Do you say (1) when you return ...
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Why is "have you just farted" okay, but "have you just smoked" not?
If someone has just farted and I can smell it, I can say: "Have you just farted?"
If someone has been smoking and I can smell it, I say: "Have you been smoking?" It is not ...
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Present simple with the duration of an action. How can it be?
If you go to church every Sunday for twenty years, you have evidence
that you are religious. If you study biology for one hour every night,
you have evidence that you are studious. Atomic Habits: the ...
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Cannot understand usage of present perfect continuous in the sentence
I know that I cannot say like this:
I would love to be living in the 19th century
because this is not a real oppotunity and you can't live in the past.
I spoke with my American friend and he suggested ...
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I haven’t liked it lately or I haven’t been liking it lately. Which is better to use?
I haven’t liked it lately
I haven’t been liking it lately.
Which one is better?
I do feel like the latter is more of a conversational form, isn’t it?
And obviously “like” is a non-continuous verb.
...
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Why is the sentence "Mark has finished watching TV." correct?
Mark has finished watching TV.
I have been thinking about this question for a while. Isn't the above sentence is in the present perfect continuous tense? I was thinking why "finished watching TV&...
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I'm reading a book or I've been reading a book? Implying I started some days ago
I saw a similar question, but I'm not content with the answers, i.e. it's still unclear.
It looks like both options are appropriate here, since for present perfect continuous can be applied to an ...
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Do I have to parallel tenses in this question?
I have just returned to my hometown after working and living in Rome for 5 years. I do not work or live in Rome anymore.
I meet someone who says: "I haven't seen you in a while, what have you ...
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Today I have been meeting and today I have met
Is there any difference between "Today I have been meeting some of the people affected by the flood" and "Today I have met some of the people affected by the flood"?
Does "...
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They have liked the idea of me starting my own business
They have liked the idea of me starting my own business.
I've liked the song since my childhood.
I've been liking the song since my childhood.
Q1) I think sentence (3) is not absolutely correct ...
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Does "I have been meeting many people for the past few days" imply I will continue to meet people?
I've read that the sentence "I have been meeting many people for the past few days" implies I will continue to meet people.
Why is that the case? To me, the sentence means that I have been ...
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Is it idiomatic to write “have been having a holiday”?
Is it idiomatic to use "have been having a holiday"?
We have had a vacation since last week. / We have been on vacation since last week.
We have been having a vacation since last week.
Are ...
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Why is 'love' used in the present continuous form here?
I am reading a book called 'High School grammar' by P.C Wren and H.Martin. We know 'love' falls in the category of stative verbs, but they have used the word 'love' in the present continuous/present ...
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I have been buying a car this week
I have come across a clip where someone says: "I have been buying a car this week". He bought the car for less than the asking price and is very pleased. Then he continues to explain the ...
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How long have you stayed or How long have you been staying
Are both the present perfect and the present perfect progressive correct in the following? If so, what's the difference?
I prefer the present perfect progressive because the stay seems to be going on. ...
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Why is the perfect used instead of past continuous in "Every time I've visited her...she has been working hard"?
Every time I've visited her in the last month, she has been working hard.
This is a sentence from a grammar textbook. I don't understand why we use Present Perfect Continuous instead of Past ...
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What is the difference between: "I am reading a lot these days" and 'I have been reading a lot these days'?
What is the difference between: "I am reading a lot these days" and "I have been reading a lot these days"?
As far as I can tell, they can both describe temporary situations. Can I ...
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Have you been riding your bike? Focus on activity?
What have you been doing during lock down? Have you been riding your bike or going for walks?
Does this mean someone has ridden their bike multiple times or not necessarily? Or is the present perfect ...
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Are you or have you been and recently. Why are both tenses used in this sentence?
I have seen this question on a new client form for a fitness studio. It says:
"Are you exercising or have you been exercising recently?" If yes, please describe.
Does this mean: "Are ...
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The present simple, the present continuous or the present perfect continuous when used with the time marker "these days"?
Could you tell me if all the following sentences are grammatically correct and natural?
These days lots of scientists try to solve the problem of pollution.
These days lots of scientists are trying ...
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"What have you done since you got up this morning?" or "What have you been doing since you got up this morning?" [duplicate]
Why I have to use here Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continous? Do both mean the same?
What have you done since you got up this morning?
What have you been doing since you got up this morning?
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people who have been protesting against
This is from a newspaper article: "we would like to hear from people who have been protesting against the controversial ruling." "If you have taken part in protests we would like to ...
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Have you been washing your hair in the sink?
I find some hair in the sink.
Can I ask "Have you been washing your hair in the sink?" without being angry or disapproving?
I am just asking about the activity that leads to the hair in the ...
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I have climbed/been climbing a mountain?
I have climbed a mountain and I have reached the top, but I am exhausted. Should I say:
"I am exhausted because I have just climbed a mountain", meaning I have reached the top and therefore ...
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