already + present perfect continuous

Question

Hello all.My textbook says that already is often used with present perfect simple.  It should not be used with present perfect continuous. I wonder whether this is 100% true? From my long experience of studying English I know that there aren´t 100% rules and therefore I would like to hear your opinion and know whether it would be correct English if I decided to use already+ present perfect continuous. Please look at my examples:I´ve already been studying English for five years.I´ve already been playing PC games for twenty years.Could I use these sentences when taking exams? Or are they possible only in colloquial speech? Thank you very much.Dominik

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

AnonymousMy textbook says that already is often used with present perfect simple.

Right.

Anonymoust should not be used with present perfect continuous.

Wrong.

AnonymousI´ve already been studying English for five years.I´ve already been playing PC games for twenty years.Could I use these sentences when taking exams?

They're fine.

AnonymousOr are they possible only in colloquial speech?

Not necessarily colloquial; they express more interest or other emotional involvement my the speaker.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous It should not be used with present perfect continuous.

On the contrary, it is not difficult to find such examples.

The team has already been practicing for the upcoming game.
Apple has already been providing an easy distribution and payment system for music for decades.
How is this different from what the University of California has already been doing?
The EPA shares your concern about the effects of the gas release and has already been investigating the incident.
McDonald's has already been trying to adjust to this situation by installing new kitchen prep tables.

Nevertheless, I suspect many writers prefer "has already started -ing" for that meaning if it works in the given context (which it doesn't always): The team has already started practicing ....

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much for your replies.

The book also mentions a word "yet" together with the "already" + the rule that it is not used with present perfect continuous. Am I right if I say that "yet" is never used with present perfect continuous in contrast with already? Here I can´t come up with my own examples which would sound good to me. I hope it is not that much off-topic and I´d appreciate hearing your opinion in ineterst to find out whether my textbook is wrong or maybe isn´t but tells half of true as it isn´t focused on advanced students. I´d like to tell you the know of the book but I´ve got just a copy of two papers.

D.

CalifJim · Answer

"yet" would occur in negative or interrogative sentences in the same way that "already" occurs with assertions. "yet" would occur at the end mostly.

Has the team been practicing for the game yet?

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you CJ.

I am sorry for all the typo/mistakes I made in my last post.

already + present perfect continuous

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