inquire about grammar

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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > inquire about grammar

inquire about grammar

aaisha86

inquire about grammar

hi everyone i need someone to clarify for me the difference between the present perfect tense and the present perfect continuous because this part seems to be very confusing to me

Thanks in advance

31 May 2011

lisa.weix

Hi aaisha86,

the Present Perfect Continuous is used:

1) for an action that started in the past and is still going on in the Present:
He�s been watching TV all day.

2) for actions repeated over a period of time:
Debbie has been playing tennis since she was eight.

3) for actions that have finished right now, stressing the duration:
I�ve been waiting for half an hour!

The activity is of interest, whereas in Present Perfect Simple the result is the important thing. Often it tells you how long something has been going on, whereas the Present Perfect Simple may give information about how often/how many times something has happened.

example:
Mary has been writing letters all day. - how long? -> Present Perfect Continuous
Mary has written four letters today. - how many? -> Present Perfect Simple

Hope that helps, best wishes from Austria,

Elisabeth. Smile

31 May 2011

yanogator

Elisabeth �s answer is excellent! I can �t add or improve any of it, but I �d like to emphasize the part about Continuous - activity, Simple - result. (It is true about the continuous tenses in general, that they emphasize the activity).

Bruce

31 May 2011

mariec

I agree,an excellent explanation.

Maybe these two examples will make it a little bit clearer;

I have painted the classroom. ( a finished action )

I have been painting the classroom. ( an unfinished action )

31 May 2011

yanogator

Actually, "I have been painting the classroom" doesn �t necessarily mean that the action is not finished. It just emphasizes the activity over the completion or non-completion.

Why are your clothes such a mess?

Oh, I have been painting the classroom. I �ve finished, so I can go change my clothes now.

Bruce

31 May 2011

MarionG

Thank you Lisa, clear and consise. I saved it for later reference. Thank you!

1 Jun 2011