Present perfect simple for completed actions, while continuous...

[klemsim]

Hi teachers

A) Present perfect simple ( PPS ) is used also for events that began in the past and may still be in progress at the time of speaking. So this sentence could mean that you still are watching TV or that you’ve just finished watching it -->

‘I’ve watched TV for the last hour.’

But then the definition for present perfect continuous ( PPC ) tells that the difference between PPS and PPC is that unlike PPC, PPS is used for completed actions ( which goes against the definition of PPS ). I understand that with PPC there is greater possibility that the action is still not completed, but that doesn’t mean that ‘I’ve watched TV for the last hour’ means you’ve stopped watching the TV?



B) Same argument for the next two statements. Using PPC does give greater possibility that action is still happening at the moment of speaking and that the singing was more continuous ( PPS suggests that singing was more disparate activity, done now and then ), but even if PPS is used, there is still a chance that singing may be continuing at the time of speaking? -->

‘We’ve been singing for the last couple of the days.’
‘We’ve sung for the last couple of days.’




C) ‘He has knocked at the door several times.’ --> here PPS also suggests greater possibility of the event being finished at the time of speaking, but there is a small chance that activity is still in progress?




cheers

[Marius Hancu]

‘I’ve watched TV for the last hour.’

Not necessarily continuously during that time (as is for PPC). Not necessarily still going on at this time.

See the postings here, including the links at the BBC:

http://www.englishpage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11209

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Both the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous relate a past action to the present, but the present perfect simple suggests [but does not guarantee, M.H.] a completed action and focuses more on achievements and results.

When we use the present perfect continuous, however, there is usually a suggestion that the activity is not yet completed, or we wish to emphasise the length of time it has lasted or stress the continuous, on-going nature of the activity. The present perfect continuous is often used in conjunction with for or since phrases.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv67.shtml
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[klemsim]

I looked at those links, but I couldn’t find anything that would specifically answer my question(s).

[Marius Hancu]

I'm sorry, the answer is there:

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perfect simple suggests [but does not guarantee, M.H.] a completed action

When we use the present perfect continuous, however, there is usually a suggestion that the activity is not yet completed
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You want guarantees. There are none.

I'd suggest to buy Swan, Practical English Usage and read it.

[klemsim]

… present perfect simple suggests [but does not guarantee, M.H.] a completed action and focuses more on achievements and results. So if someone has been reading constantly for the past 10 hours and is still reading, but the speaker would prefer to focus on achievement of that someone finally starting to read that specific book ( thus he considers starting to read an achievement, but he doesn’t consider the length of time that person’s been reading an achievement), then speaker would use PPC?





… present perfect simple suggests [but does not guarantee, M.H.] a completed action and focuses more on achievements and results.

…present perfect continuous, however, there is usually a suggestion that the activity is not yet completed, or we wish to emphasise the length of time it has lasted or stress the continuous, on-going nature of the activity.
But what if the speaker considers the length of time itself an achievement? Do we then use PPC even though it is PPS that emphasizes the length of time an event lasted?


cheers

[Bridget]

I'd suggest to buy Swan, Practical English Usage and read it.

Are you trying to cut down traffic to this forum, Marius?

[Marius Hancu]

>So if someone has been reading constantly for the past 10 hours and is still reading

Use the PPC.

‘We’ve been singing for the last couple of the days.

Say this especially if it still continues today.