ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Ask for help > present perfect
present perfect

anaram
|
present perfect
|
Hi!
Can anyone tell me if "have not been working" is possible in this sentence?
I can �t find a job. I ............ (not work) for months.
I was expecting "haven �t worked" but I �m not too sure if this option is also possible.
Thanks a lot and have a nice Christmas everybody.
Ana
|
21 Dec 2010
|
|
|

uatike
|
as far as I remember "live-teach-work" are special verbs . You can use them either in Pres.perf. or pres.perf cont.
So both of the usage is okay. They have the same meaning.
Atike |
21 Dec 2010
|
|

edrodmedina
|
haven �t worked, have not worked...either is fine. Ed |
21 Dec 2010
|
|

anaram
|
Thanks. So, "have not been working"is not correct. Right?
|
22 Dec 2010
|
|
|

Apodo
|
The most obvious answer (and the one that sounds best) is as you expected:
I can �t find a job. I haven �t worked for months.
I haven �t been working is best used like this:
I haven �t been working at the factory since it closed in July.
I haven �t been working here long.
|
22 Dec 2010
|
|
|