Being/have been

1. I think I've been followed.

2. I think I'm being followed.

--- Does the first one say that it has been happening for some time and the second that it's happening right at the time when I speak about it?

1. The first means you have been followed in the past.

2. The second means you are being followed now.

b.zimmerman

1. The first means you have been followed in the past.

2. The second means you are being followed now.

Hi

Doesn't the present perfect tense indicate that something happened in the past and continues until now? If so, in my view the 1st one also suggests that I'm still being followed. What do you think?

Hi,
I believe there is a difference of degree in meaning.

Newguest1. I think I've been followed. - This means that someone has been following you for a while. You don't know when the following had begun, but it's on going up to the time you realize it.

2. I think I'm being followed. -

Hi guys,

1. I think I've been followed.

The Present Perfect tells us "I" have been followed at some unspecified time in the past, and that this fact has some relevance to the present situation.

The tense does not tell us about the duration of the following, or about how often it happened. However, the context and indeed the specific vocabulary of the statement will o

Clive1. I think I've been followed.

The Present Perfect tells us "I" have been followed at some unspecified time in the past, and that this fact has some relevance to the present situation.




So as b.zimmerman suggested the following happened in the past and it's over by now? thanks.

Hi,

So as b.zimmerman suggested the following happened in the past and it's over by now? thanks.

Not necessarily. But the context and the vocabulary often make that clear, as I said.

Consider these examples.

eg Help, a robber has shot me! The shooting clearly happened in the (recent) past.

eg I have worked here for the last ten years.

NewguestHi

1. I think I've been followed.

2. I think I'm being followed.

--- Does the first one say that it has been happening for some time and the second that it's happening right at the time when I speak about it?

"and the second, that it's happening right at the time whe

Thanks for the answers guys. I think it's clearer.

What if I joined these two sentences, i.e. I say to somebody: I think I've been followed and I'm afraid I'm still being followed. Would it make sense in your view?

NewguestI think I've been followed and I'm afraid I'm still being followed.

If you tell that to the police, I don't think he has problem understanding you. But everything after "and..." is redundant. As I had mentioned in my earlier thread, " I think I have been followed.." suggests that the following is still true as I speak.

Hi,

It's OK in a context where it makes sense for you to use so many words and such a lot of detail.

Clive