Questions tagged [present-perfect-progressive]
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178
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Haven't spoken or haven't been speaking
Could you, please, provide me with an explanation as to why "haven't spoken" is an accepted answer instead of "haven't been speaking" in the following example:
My downstairs ...
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Present perfect progressive or future: "have been saving up" or "going to save up"?
Put the verbs in brackets into a suitable tense form
I ______ (save up) for three years because I want to buy a guitar.
Although there is a period mentioned, yet I think using the present perfect ...
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2
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I've been reading a lot of books or I've read a lot of books?
I want to say that I started reading a lot of books when I was a child and I continue to do so. So is the present perfect continuous the right tense or should it be the present perfect simple?
I've ...
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Presnt Continuous or Present Perfect Continuous? [duplicate]
Source:
https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2023-03-16/blackrocks-larry-fink-does-not-rule-out-a-liquidity-crisis-after-svb-collapse.html
Fink states that since the 2008 financial crisis, ...
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You've spent too much time playing that stupid game or you've been spending too much time playing that stupid game?
Is this explanation legit? Can you think of example of present perfect referring to how much you've done something?
"You've spent" too much time playing that stupid game.
"You've been ...
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I've been wasting or I've wasted?
Which tense is used in this sentence?
Oh no! This is the wrong paint! I _____________ a lot of time. Now I have to paint all the walls again!
A. Have been wasting
B. Have wasted
What's the right ...
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I haven't been ... this week vs I haven't ... this week
What is the difference between
I haven't been exercising this week.
and
I haven't exercised this week.
Maybe the difference is that the 2nd sentence means that the number of exercises made is 0 ...
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What is the difference between Present perfect and Present perfect continuous in cases where action doesn't have any result
It's clear that we should use Present perfect when we want to show that an action is completed and we have some result. It is also clear that we should use Present perfect continuous when we want to ...
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The present continuous vs. the present perfect continuous when talking about temporary habitual actions?
Would you please tell me if there is any difference in meaning between the present continuous the present perfect continuous when talking about temporary habitual actions? For example:
I'm going to ...
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What does a negative present perfect progressive tense imply?
I have learned the present perfect progressive on youtube and some other sources. It's clear that the tense implies something that started in the past and continues in the present.
However, what does ...
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Present Perfect Continuous and Past Simple for finished actions. How to differentiate?
please look at my question carefully. It's not the difference btw Present Perfect and Past Simple or Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous. This topic isn't usually covered, but looking at ...
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Why we use present perfect continuous in these 2 examples(instead of present perfect simple)?
1-The children are tired now. They have been playing in the garden.
2-Are you ok? You look as if you have been crying.
I question why we use present perfect continuous instead of present perfect ...
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Why we use present perfect continuous in the below example?
Can you tell me why we use the present perfect continuous in this example?
I have been drinking more water recently, and I feel better.
I thought it must be present perfect simple, because when we ...
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what happens in the following I have been traveling since I was ten years old
I have been working on The Present Perfect Continuous Tense recently, I saw the following
I have been traveling since I was ten years old.
I have been learning that the Present Perfect Continuous ...
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I have developed a program for two years. - it can mean a 2-year period in the past. Am I right?
Example 1
(1) I have developed a program for two years.
(2) I have been developing a program for two years.
Let's say right now is 2022. So (2) means that the developing of the program is from 2020 ...
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How long have I been sleeping? [closed]
If I was sleeping and I just woke up, is it correct to say to someone:
How long I have been sleeping?
Secondly, the present perfect continuous implies the continuity but does it mean that I am doing ...
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have been thinking / have thought
I have been thinking about you
Would mean that currently I am still thinking about her but we do not have a period.
I have been thinking about you since I met you.
This sentence implies I'm still ...
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Who has been drawing these pictures?
A teacher walked into the classroom and found that there were a few ugly pictures on the blackboard. He asked,
Who has been drawing these pictures?
Who was drawing these pictures?
Which sentence is ...
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1
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meaning sentence present perfect continuous [duplicate]
In a movie, someone says "she has been possessing people", when speaking about a "witch".
Does this sentence mean that "she" has possessed people for a while and ...
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441
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I have been walking/ I have walked [duplicate]
If I have just walked and now I am at home, can I say:
I have been walking, so now I am very tired (I think yes)
I have walked, so now I am very tired (I do not know)
If it lasted 3 hours can I say:
...
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What is the difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous in this example
I've always struggled with these two tenses, for example, is there any difference between these two sentences, or is one of them just wrong?
I have been working all my life, I should have a home by ...
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I haven't waited vs I haven't been waiting
In the following text:
A: I'm sorry I'm late.
B: That's OK. I _______________ long.
I answered
haven't waited
but the correct answer is
haven't been waiting
Could you explain the difference ...
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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 [closed]
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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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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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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