Are the following sentences possible?
(Using present perfect continuous for negative sentences)
I haven't been seeing Tom since yesterday.
Sarah hasn't been calling for ages.
Top answer
You can use negation with the present perfect continues overall but, in your first example, present perfect sounds much better to my ear. 1. I haven' t seen Tom since yesterday.
- You can use negation with the present perfect continues overall but, in your first example, present perfect sounds much better to my ear.
- 1.
- I haven' t seen Tom since yesterday.
- In fact, even with the second example, I tend to use present perfect tense.
- Maybe because, "for ages" already implied the meaning you wanted.
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You can use negation with the present perfect continues overall but, in your first example, present perfect sounds much better to my ear.
1. I haven't seen Tom since yesterday.
In fact, even with the second example, I tend to use present perfect tense. Maybe because, "for ages" already implied the meaning you wanted.
0djinlondonI haven't been seeing Tom since yesterday.
Not possible.
I haven't seen Tom since yesterday.
"see" has a dynamic meaning, - dating / going out with.
I haven't been seeing Tom as much as I used to.
djinlondonSarah hasn't been calling for ages.
Sarah has
0djinlondonpresent perfect continuous for negative sentences
This is possible, but it is not a common combination.
I found a few examples online:
If you don't think it needs to be fixed, then you haven't been paying attention.
A relationship may need work, especially if you haven't been communicating well.
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