I need some help with The present perfect continuous

[kate]

1. Peter has been working in the garden since ten o'clock this morning, and he's still hard at work.
I'm tired becuase I have been cutting the grass.(The cutting went on for some time)
2. Alan, you've been reading that book all day. ~Yes, I have, but I haven't finished it yet.
Use
1. The present perfect continuous tense shows that an action began in the past and had gone on for some time.
2. We use the tense to talk about an action that is still happening.

my questions are

1. What does "has gone on for sometime" mean?

2. in the use 2, it says the present perfect continuous is used to talk about an action that is still happening. but i think in the first sentence peter is still working. what's the difference?

I have learned that the present perfect continuous shows that an action beguan in the past and has gone up to the present. Then I guess the tense means it's a thing up to now or it's a thing still happening.
when it's a thinkg up to now, it means it has been so up to now but different after now.
when it's a thing still happeing, it means now only it has been so, but it is going to be so even after now.

Thank you for reading this.

I really hope some of you will help me!

I need help from you guys!!

[Rusty]

1. Peter has been working in the garden since ten o'clock this morning, and he's still hard at work.
I'm tired becuase I have been cutting the grass.(The cutting went on for some time)
2. Alan, you've been reading that book all day. ~Yes, I have, but I haven't finished it yet.
Use
1. The present perfect continuous tense shows that an action began in the past and had gone on for some time.
2. We use the tense to talk about an action that is still happening.

my questions are

1. What does "has gone on for sometime" mean?

2. in the use 2, it says the present perfect continuous is used to talk about an action that is still happening. but i think in the first sentence peter is still working. what's the difference?

I have learned that the present perfect continuous shows that an action beguan in the past and has gone up to the present. Then I guess the tense means it's a thing up to now or it's a thing still happening.
when it's a thinkg up to now, it means it has been so up to now but different after now.
when it's a thing still happeing, it means now only it has been so, but it is going to be so even after now.

Thank you for reading this.

I really hope some of you will help me!

I need help from you guys!!
1. Peter has been working in the garden since ten o'clock this morning, and he's still hard at work. (OK. ...still (hard) at work...means he is continuing to work).
I'm tired because I have been cutting the grass.(The cutting went on for some time) (Yes, and I may or may not continue cutting it).
2. Alan, you've been reading that book all day. ~Yes, I have, but I haven't finished it yet. (OK).
Use
1. The present perfect continuous tense shows that an action began in the past and has gone on for some time.
2. We use the tense to talk about an action that is still happening.

my questions are

1. What does "has gone on for sometime" mean? (continued for an indefinite period of time).

2. in the use 2, it says the present perfect continuous is used to talk about an action that is still happening. but i think in the first sentence peter is still working. what's the difference? (Peter worked all morning and he is not finished. The meaning is the same as: Peter has been working all morning and he is still working. The use of the continuous verb emphasizes continuing action. At work means he is working).

I have learned that the present perfect continuous shows that an action began in the past and has gone up to the present. Then I guess the tense means it's a thing up to now or it's a thing still happening. (Right).
when it's a thing up to now, it means it has been so up to now but different after now. (Maybe so, maybe not).
when it's a thing still happening, it means now only it has been so, but it is going to be so even after now. (Maybe so, maybe not).
He has been working all morning and he has finished the job.
He has been working all morning but he hasn't finished yet.

[danmahaffey]

Present perfect continuous combines two concepts. Let's look at them.
Present Perfect - an action previous to the present. I have eaten. I have arrived late for work again. I have lived in London twice before moving here. Previous to the present can include up to the present.
Continuous - an ongoing action. The cat is eating. Was Tom riding my bicycle to work? I am packing my belongings to move to Athens.When you look at each concept, and try to combine them, you get an ongoing action previous to the present. Here are some results:
Peter has been working in the garden since ten o'clock this morning. This is an action that occured in the past and continues up to the present.
I'm tired becuase I have been cutting the grass. This is an action that went on for some time very near the present (when you said, I'm tired).
We have been expecting you.
She has been sleeping for over an hour.
I know I'm lost because I have been driving around town for two hours without seeing a familiar landmark.
Billy has been cooking barbecue all day, and it is smelling delicious.
Karen is sure we have been getting closer to the buried treasure.
Have you been saving money each week for the trip to Berlin?An important point to remember is that have/has been continuous forms do not care if the action will continue to occur in the future. They simply state that the action was occurring before now. The rest of the sentence might say if the action has stopped. Alan has been reading that book all day, and now he is finished.

Let me know if this helps.

[danmahaffey]

Rusty, I'm sorry for posting an answer on top of your answer. I didn't look up to see that you had one in the queue already.:(

[Rusty]

Rusty, I'm sorry for posting an answer on top of your answer. I didn't look up to see that you had one in the queue already. That's OK, Dan. I sometimes do the same thing myself. I think we made the same point with our answers.

[kate]

I really thank you

You two really helped me!

It's getting clear now!

I think i know 99% about the present perfect continuous!

i was so confused. my book syas the present perfect continuous is used to talk about an action began in the past and has gone one up to the present.

i thought the present is the moment i speak

so

when i say 'we've been working hard since o'clock so we're going to have a rest now. it makes no sense because if it is up to now, i should be working even when i am speaking. but i guess i was crazy

thank you guys!!!!!!!!!

i have been thinking about this over 2 days.

everything is clear!

i still have 2 questions!

1. 'we use the present perfect continuous to show that an action has gone on for some time.'
-(a) peter has been working in the garden since ten o'clock this morning, and he's still hard at work.
-(b) i'm tired becuase i've been cutting the grass.
i still don't understnad the meaning of 'has gone on for some time' because when i asked about this with the (a) sentence of my canadian friend, he said 'has gone on for some time = still going'
whey i say 'the show has gone on for sometime', what does that mean?
the show has gone on up to now for an undefined time?
in the (b) sentence, what 'has gone on for sometime' mean? it is not related to now?

2.we've been working hard since seven o'clock so we're going to have a rest now.

in this sentnece, when i say it i am not working so the work is over just before i speak. in some way, it is very similar to the sentencne 'i'm tired becuase i've been cutting the grass.'

am i right?




i can't thank you guys enough!!!

thank you thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

[danmahaffey]

I think you've made a "breakthrough." I am happy for you.

About question (1), the auxiliary verb have holds the key. When have is present tense (have or has), then the action continues up to the present. But, it may not be happening any more, or it may not happen in the future. We don't know these things from the verb, itself. We have to learn this from the rest of the context.

Your explanation, has gone on for some time, uses a verb in the present perfect (not continuous). To avoid opening a new topic, let's look at it in the present perfect continuous, has been going on for some time. (The relationship of events to time is the same.)

Has been going on for some time means that the action has been occurring continuously, for an unspecified but lengthy time, up to the present. You understand that the present is big enough to include the time somewhat before the immediate instant. So it is possible that the action has just stopped, or stopped a few moments ago, or has not stopped at all. (How big a "moment" is is up to you.)

Here are some examples of present perfect continuous using actually using the phrase for some time. This really wasn't your question, but it gives a good illustration of how the present perfect works continuous works. If present perfect continuous means going on for some time, then sentences that say going on for some time should really show off the tense:
This has been going on for some time, now. (stopped?)
Has this been going on for some time? (stopped?)
This war has been going on for some time, and now negotiators are ready to announce a peace deal. (just stopped)
The affair has been going on for some time, but she finally broke it off. (recently stopped)
These erruptions have been going on for some time, and scientists expect the volcano to remain active for centuries. (not stopped)You can see, the possibilities are many. This is a very flexible construction, and we use it frequently. Now I will rewrite the sentences to use other verbs and adverbials:
This has been occurring for months, now.
Has this been happening to you every week?
The guerillas have been fighting the government for three years, and now negotiators are ready to announce a peace deal.
My cousin has been having an affair with him for several months, but she finally broke it off.
These erruptions have been darkening the skies over the island for weeks, and scientists expect the volcano to remain active for centuries.You answered your question (2) correctly yourself.

[kate]

i really beliveve i know 99.9% of the present perfect continuous

but i have got a few new questioons

by this (The relationship of events to time is the same), do you mean that 'have gone on' and 'have been going on' are the same?

i thought 'go on' is like 'live, work ...' that kind of verb.

(*)'an action has gone on for some time' means the action has continued for an undefined time until now or a short time before now? (*) i mean it's like it's up to the speak how big the present is as you said

1. 'i have owned this bicycle for months but i gave it to my little sister'
is that correct? i made it up

2. 'i have owned this bicycle since i was thirteen but i gave it to my little sister' is this correct?

3. in action verbs, 'i have talked to him' means 'i talked to her at an unspecified time in the past' ?

4. in stative verbs, 'i have owned this car' is the same with 'i have been driving this car now' ?

5. this is not related to the questions above, 'it was missing a piece'

'when did you first miss your ring?' 'we seemed to be missing some students'

how is this word 'miss' used?

i really thank you so much

Thank you x 1000000

oh, are you saying the things of the first two examples hasn't stopped or we don't know if it hasn
t stopped or not?

i think they are all the question left

[danmahaffey]

by this (The relationship of events to time is the same), do you mean that 'have gone on' and 'have been going on' are the same? Not quite. Have gone on means occurred before now. Have been going on means occurred continuously before now. My statement, The relationship of events to time is the same, means the "before now" part is the same.

i thought 'go on' is like 'live, work ...' that kind of verb. Go on is a phrasal verb meaning occur, happen, proceed, or continue.

(*)'an action has gone on for some time' means the action has continued for an undefined time until now or a short time before now? (*) i mean it's like it's up to the speaker how big the present is as you said True (within reasonable limits).

1. 'i have owned this bicycle for months but i gave it to my little sister'
is that correct? i made it up Very good.

2. 'i have owned this bicycle since i was thirteen but i gave it to my little sister' is this correct? Very good, also.

3. in action verbs, 'i have talked to him' means 'i talked to her him at an unspecified time in the past' ? Yes

4. in stative verbs, 'i have owned this car' is the same with 'i have been driving this car [until?] now' ? Not really, until you put an adverbial into the sentence. I have owned this car for three years. I have owned this car through some hard winters. I have owned this car for 200,000 miles. I have owned this car before.

5. this is not related to the questions above, 'it was missing a piece'

'when did you first miss your ring?' 'we seemed to be missing some students'

how is this word 'miss' used? Miss means many things, but here it means omit or fail to include something in the first sentence, and discover something absent or gone in the second and third sentences.

i really thank you so much

Thank you x 1000000

oh, are you saying the things of the first two examples hasn't stopped or we don't know if it hasn
t stopped or not? I don't know.

i think they are all the question left[/quote]

[kate]

when i say only 'i have owned this car', the listener don't know if i still have the car or i gave it to someone lately. because i didn't put any adverbial word to tell essential information.

am i right?

the present perfect continuous just shows that an action started in the past and it have kept happening for some time right before now,lately not now or even now.

am i right?

i was so confused with meaning of 'up to now'

so what is exactly 'up to now'? just before this exact moment of speaking?

or now is included?

my book says 'the present perfect continuous shows that an action began in the past and has gone on for some time'
would you explain this sentence super easily?
i thoought it kept happening for some time and it was finished a short time before or it hasnt stopped.

am i right?

even for native speakers, it is hard to understand some sentence lack of essential adverbial words

am i right?

i always come up with new questions i am sorry

i have been studying english for years, there are always things that i don't know

i really thank you for helping me!!!!!!!!!!!

[danmahaffey]

Kate, I must be away for a few days. I am late leaving now. I am sorry, but you will have to wait for answers. You are on the right track, however.

[Rusty]

when i say only 'i have owned this car', the listener don't know if i still have the car or i gave it to someone lately. because i didn't put any adverbial word to tell essential information.

am i right?

the present perfect continuous just shows that an action started in the past and it have kept happening for some time right before now,lately not now or even now.

am i right?

i was so confused with meaning of 'up to now'

so what is exactly 'up to now'? just before this exact moment of speaking?

or now is included?

my book says 'the present perfect continuous shows that an action began in the past and has gone on for some time'
would you explain this sentence super easily?
i thoought it kept happening for some time and it was finished a short time before or it hasnt stopped.

am i right?

even for native speakers, it is hard to understand some sentence lack of essential adverbial words

am i right?

i always come up with new questions i am sorry

i have been studying english for years, there are always things that i don't know

i really thank you for helping me!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Kate. Dan says he is going to be away, so maybe I can help you.

when i say only 'i have owned this car', the listener don't know if i still have the car or i gave it to someone lately. because i didn't put any adverbial word to tell essential information.

am i right? (Yes. The sentence sounds incomplete as it is now. A listener expects some explanation).

the present perfect continuous just shows that an action started in the past and it have kept happening for some time right before now,lately not now or even now.

am i right? (We don't know if it is still happening or if it has stopped.
Example: She has been studying Greek since January.
The sentence does not tell us if she is still studying Greek).

i was so confused with meaning of 'up to now'

so what is exactly 'up to now'? just before this exact moment of speaking?

or now is included? ("Up to now" means "until now." "Just before this exact moment of speaking" seems to be a good explanation).

my book says 'the present perfect continuous shows that an action began in the past and has gone on for some time'
would you explain this sentence super easily?
i thoought it kept happening for some time and it was finished a short time before or it hasnt stopped.

am i right? (Yes. That's the idea).

even for native speakers, it is hard to understand some sentence lack of essential adverbial words

am i right? (If the context does not supply the information that is necessary to understand the sentence, then some adverbial should be included.
Example:
A. Have you ever owned a car?
B. Yes, I have owned several cars.
Both A. and B. understand that the meaning is "at any time in the past."

A. Have you bought tickets?
B. Yes. I bought them yesterday.
Both A. and B. know what the tickets are for and when they needed to be bought.

i always come up with new questions i am sorry (I hope you can understand my explanations).

i have been studying english for years, there are always things that i don't know (There are lots of things that I don't know either. :) )

[kate]

thank you for your helping me i think my english is much better now

but still i am a little bit confusued because i asked my canadian friend about this 'the present perfect continuous shows that an action began in the past and has gone on for some time', he said 'it is still happening'

so i don't get it

when i think about what i have learned about the present perfect continuous

it can be used with many things

they are like you can use it when something is still happeing, when it just stopped, or when i stopped in a time close to now like lately or recently

a thing began in the past and it kept heppening for some time which is close to the present

when i say 'an action has gone on' i don't know if the action has stopped or not

when i say 'an action has gone on for some time', we don't know if the action has stopped or not but usually i will think it hasn't stopped

am i right up to this?

thie purpose of thie present perfect continous is to show a thing bgan in the past and have gone on some time(or it went on for some time) so it is just simly ongoing action before now

but if a thing began in the past and went on for some time up to a time in the past we just use the past tense and if that thing went on for some time up to a time close the present or a time in 'recently or lately' we use the present perfect continous

am i right up to this?

if i say 'i have lived here', 'an action has gone on', 'i have owned the car', 'or i 'i have loved him' they are incomplete the listener don't know if i had the experience before or i have been doing those things for some time until now becuase of the lack of essential adverbial words

am i right?

so we need some adverbial words to make this sentences correct

am i right?

oh that's a lot

i just really thank you guys for helping me

my enlgish is a lot better than i came here first!

the most important question to me is 'an action has gone on for some time' i don't want to guess i want to know what it means from the native speaker

what the hell does that mean? if i say 'i have had this car for some time' will you say that i bought the car and i have keeped it until now or i bought the car and i kept it a short time ago like recently or lately?
if there is no adverbial word which say if it has stopped you will think i kept it until now

what does that mean? 'go on' is a state verb, right?

what does 'an action has gone on for some time' mean?

my quesion could be simple or complicated help me

not only i need to know the quesions above, but i really need to know 'an action has gone on for some time'

i really really sincerely thank you

[Rusty]

thank you for your helping me i think my english is much better now

but still i am a little bit confusued because i asked my canadian friend about this 'the present perfect continuous shows that an action began in the past and has gone on for some time', he said 'it is still happening'

so i don't get it

when i think about what i have learned about the present perfect continuous

it can be used with many things

they are like you can use it when something is still happeing, when it just stopped, or when i stopped in a time close to now like lately or recently

a thing began in the past and it kept heppening for some time which is close to the present

when i say 'an action has gone on' i don't know if the action has stopped or not

when i say 'an action has gone on for some time', we don't know if the action has stopped or not but usually i will think it hasn't stopped

am i right up to this?

thie purpose of thie present perfect continous is to show a thing bgan in the past and have gone on some time(or it went on for some time) so it is just simly ongoing action before now

but if a thing began in the past and went on for some time up to a time in the past we just use the past tense and if that thing went on for some time up to a time close the present or a time in 'recently or lately' we use the present perfect continous

am i right up to this?

if i say 'i have lived here', 'an action has gone on', 'i have owned the car', 'or i 'i have loved him' they are incomplete the listener don't know if i had the experience before or i have been doing those things for some time until now becuase of the lack of essential adverbial words

am i right?

so we need some adverbial words to make this sentences correct

am i right?

oh that's a lot

i just really thank you guys for helping me

my enlgish is a lot better than i came here first!

the most important question to me is 'an action has gone on for some time' i don't want to guess i want to know what it means from the native speaker

what the hell does that mean? if i say 'i have had this car for some time' will you say that i bought the car and i have keeped it until now or i bought the car and i kept it a short time ago like recently or lately?
if there is no adverbial word which say if it has stopped you will think i kept it until now

what does that mean? 'go on' is a state verb, right?

what does 'an action has gone on for some time' mean?

my quesion could be simple or complicated help me

not only i need to know the quesions above, but i really need to know 'an action has gone on for some time'

i really really sincerely thank you
thank you for your helping me i think my english is much better now

but still i am a little bit confusued because i asked my canadian friend about this 'the present perfect continuous shows that an action began in the past and has gone on for some time', he said 'it is still happening'

so i don't get it

when i think about what i have learned about the present perfect continuous

it can be used with many things

they are like you can use it when something is still happeing, when it just stopped, or when i stopped in a time close to now like lately or recently
(That's right).

a thing began in the past and it kept heppening for some time which is close to the present (OK).

when i say 'an action has gone on' i don't know if the action has stopped or not (Right).

when i say 'an action has gone on for some time', we don't know if the action has stopped or not but usually i will think it hasn't stopped (At this point you don't know).

am i right up to this? (Yes).

thie purpose of thie present perfect continous is to show a thing bgan in the past and have gone on some time(or it went on for some time) so it is just simply ongoing action before now (OK).

but if a thing began in the past and went on for some time up to a time in the past (and then stopped) we just use the past tense (Yes, the simple past tense).


and if that thing went on for some time up to a time close the present or a time in 'recently or lately' we use the present perfect continous
We can use either the present perfect or the present perfect continuous.
Example: She has studied English for two years.
She has been studying English for two years.
The continuous form emphasizes the continuing aspect of the action.
The meaning is basically the same.
I have waited three days for your answer.
I have been waiting three days for you answer.
The meaning is basically the same.


am i right up to this? (As noted above).

if i say 'i have lived here', 'an action has gone on', 'i have owned the car', 'or i 'i have loved him' they are incomplete the listener don't know if i had the experience before or i have been doing those things for some time until now becuase of the lack of essential adverbial words

am i right? Yes, further explanation is needed.

so we need some adverbial words to make this sentences correct

am i right? To make the thought complete you need more adverbial words.

oh that's a lot

i just really thank you guys for helping me Sorry that your posting got left behind for a couple of days.

my enlgish is a lot better than i came here first!

the most important question to me is 'an action has gone on for some time' i don't want to guess i want to know what it means from the native speaker
Has gone on means has been happening. For some time means for an indefinite length of time.
what the hell does that mean? if i say 'i have had this car for some time' will you say that i bought the car and i have kept it until now I understand that you still have the car unless you tell me otherwise.

or i bought the car and i kept it a short time ago like recently or lately?
If you don't still have the car, say: I had this car for some time. Then I understand that you no longer have the car.

if there is no adverbial word which say if it has stopped you will think i kept it until now That's right

what does that mean? 'go on' is a state verb, right? Go on means continue.

what does 'an action has gone on for some time' mean? Here's an example:
That noise downstairs has gone on for some time.
Meaning: I can't say exactly when it started. They are still making a noise downstairs. In this case, "some time" is enough time to give me a headache!

my quesion could be simple or complicated help me

not only i need to know the quesions above, but i really need to know 'an action has gone on for some time'

i really really sincerely thank you

[Ruslanus]

thank you for your helping me i think my english is much better now

but still i am a little bit confusued because i asked my canadian friend about this 'the present perfect continuous shows that an action began in the past and has gone on for some time', he said 'it is still happening'

so i don't get it

when i think about what i have learned about the present perfect continuous

it can be used with many things

they are like you can use it when something is still happeing, when it just stopped, or when i stopped in a time close to now like lately or recently
(That's right).

a thing began in the past and it kept heppening for some time which is close to the present (OK).

when i say 'an action has gone on' i don't know if the action has stopped or not (Right).

when i say 'an action has gone on for some time', we don't know if the action has stopped or not but usually i will think it hasn't stopped (At this point you don't know).

am i right up to this? (Yes).

thie purpose of thie present perfect continous is to show a thing bgan in the past and have gone on some time(or it went on for some time) so it is just simply ongoing action before now (OK).

but if a thing began in the past and went on for some time up to a time in the past (and then stopped) we just use the past tense (Yes, the simple past tense).


and if that thing went on for some time up to a time close the present or a time in 'recently or lately' we use the present perfect continous
We can use either the present perfect or the present perfect continuous.
Example: She has studied English for two years.
She has been studying English for two years.
The continuous form emphasizes the continuing aspect of the action.
The meaning is basically the same.
I have waited three days for your answer.
I have been waiting three days for you answer.
The meaning is basically the same.


am i right up to this? (As noted above).

if i say 'i have lived here', 'an action has gone on', 'i have owned the car', 'or i 'i have loved him' they are incomplete the listener don't know if i had the experience before or i have been doing those things for some time until now becuase of the lack of essential adverbial words

am i right? Yes, further explanation is needed.

so we need some adverbial words to make this sentences correct

am i right? To make the thought complete you need more adverbial words.

oh that's a lot

i just really thank you guys for helping me Sorry that your posting got left behind for a couple of days.

my enlgish is a lot better than i came here first!

the most important question to me is 'an action has gone on for some time' i don't want to guess i want to know what it means from the native speaker
Has gone on means has been happening. For some time means for an indefinite length of time.
what the hell does that mean? if i say 'i have had this car for some time' will you say that i bought the car and i have kept it until now I understand that you still have the car unless you tell me otherwise.

or i bought the car and i kept it a short time ago like recently or lately?
If you don't still have the car, say: I had this car for some time. Then I understand that you no longer have the car.

if there is no adverbial word which say if it has stopped you will think i kept it until now That's right

what does that mean? 'go on' is a state verb, right? Go on means continue.

what does 'an action has gone on for some time' mean? Here's an example:
That noise downstairs has gone on for some time.
Meaning: I can't say exactly when it started. They are still making a noise downstairs. In this case, "some time" is enough time to give me a headache!

my quesion could be simple or complicated help me

not only i need to know the quesions above, but i really need to know 'an action has gone on for some time'

i really really sincerely thank you

I’m not sure if it should be polite to interfere in this conversation but it may be interesting in connection with a use for Present Perfect Continuous Tense. I’ve learnt that we can use Present Perfect Continuous if we need to point to indirect or surrounding circumstances/results of general process. For example:
“I’ve been repairing the car since morning and now my shirt is dirty.” (But we don’t know whether car has been repaired (direct result of doing) or not)
“I’ve been trying to comprehend this topic at least twenty times and that is why I feel tired.” (But we don’t know if the topic has been learnt at the end).
"I'm not ugly as a matter of fact. I've just been trying to concentrate." :)
I don’t know whether it correct or not in point of common speech. The Oxford Practice Grammar Book by John Eastwood contains such case of Present Perfect Continuous Tense usage.
Please put my opinion right if it’s wrong.

[Rusty]

I’m not sure if it should be polite to interfere in this conversation but it may be interesting in connection with a use for Present Perfect Continuous Tense. I’ve learnt that we can use Present Perfect Continuous if we need to point to indirect or surrounding circumstances/results of general process. For example:
“I’ve been repairing the car since morning and now my shirt is dirty.” (But we don’t know whether car has been repaired (direct result of doing) or not)
“I’ve been trying to comprehend this topic at least twenty times and that is why I feel tired.” (But we don’t know if the topic has been learnt at the end).
"I'm not ugly as a matter of fact. I've just been trying to concentrate." :)
I don’t know whether it correct or not in point of common speech. The Oxford Practice Grammar Book by John Eastwood contains such case of Present Perfect Continuous Tense usage.
Please put my opinion right if it’s wrong. The forum is open to everybody's ideas. Don't think of it as interfering, Ruslanus. The examples you give sound natural, with one exception:
“I’ve been trying to comprehend this topic at least twenty times. "
When you define/limit the amount of time the continuous form of the verb is not appropriate. Example:
I've been trying to comprehend this topic for a long time/for months/for years. (An indefinite time. Use present perfect continuous).
I've tried to comprehend this topic twenty times. (A definite time. Use present perfect).

[kate]

'an action began in the past and has gone on for some time' means 'an action has been happening for some time'
so it's the same with 'she has loved the ring for some time'
'has been happening' means 'has been happening up to now' if there is no adverbial word which shows it has stopped

am i right?

my book is a little bit weird

look at this
→
the grass looks nice because i've cut the grass.
i'm tired because i've been cutting the grass.
use-we use both tense to talk about an action that finished a shot time ago. we use the present perfect to talk about the present result of an aciton and we use the present perfect continuous to show that an action has gone on for some time.

when i see only 'an action has gone on for some time' i just think 'it has been happening unitl now for some time'
but in the example sentence, the action is over, it says it can be used with things finisehd a short time ago though

things finisehd a short time ago is not the same with 'an action has gone on for some time'

am i right?

that's all left really

thank you

love you guys!!

[danmahaffey]

We have been discussing present perfect continuous for more than one week, and wow are we tired!


Kate, yes it is true that "finished a short time ago" is not the same as "gone on for some time." Careful reading of the explanation from your book tells me that your book doesn't really mean that. It say that both conditions occur in present perfect continuous.


This thread has been going on for some time, and now we are finished.:)