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Snappy Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Dancing (for) five years.
1. She has been dancing for five hours.
2. She has been dancing five hours.
I think both 1 and 2 of the above are acceptable. My question is which one more strongly suggests that she has been dancing continuously without any rest.
Thank you.
2. She has been dancing five hours.
I think both 1 and 2 of the above are acceptable. My question is which one more strongly suggests that she has been dancing continuously without any rest.
Thank you.
Top answer
Number one is more acceptable ,, Because of the " Present Perfect Progressive " is used at your expression ( Has Been dancing ) !! So, the preposition ( For ) is required !! I hope you get it ..
- Number one is more acceptable ,, Because of the " Present Perfect Progressive " is used at your expression ( Has Been dancing ) !!
- So, the preposition ( For ) is required !!
- I hope you get it ..
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6 Answers
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Number one is more acceptable ,, Because of the " Present Perfect Progressive " is used at your expression
( Has Been dancing ) !!
So, the preposition ( For ) is required !!
I hope you get it ..
( Has Been dancing ) !!
So, the preposition ( For ) is required !!
I hope you get it ..
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Junta-104So, the preposition ( For ) is required !!According to Longman English Grammar L G.Alexander
"for is often omitted when the verb is present perfect or past:
Patricia has been (or has lived, has worked) here (for) a year.
If I say, "I have been working (for) 15 years," nobody will think that I have
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Hi Snappy,
Neither, really.
If we hear "for five years" we know that other things happened in between the periods of dancing.
If we hear "for five hours" we can't be sure if they took breaks every once in a while.
If you add the word "straight" it implies without interruption. She's been dancing for five hours straight.
Neither, really.
If we hear "for five years" we know that other things happened in between the periods of dancing.
If we hear "for five hours" we can't be sure if they took breaks every once in a while.
If you add the word "straight" it implies without interruption. She's been dancing for five hours straight.
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Thank you for your advice, Grammar Geek.
I remember I have once read in a grammar book that continuous action can be emphasized with or without the preposition "for," which, however, might be my misunderstanding.
I remember I have once read in a grammar book that continuous action can be emphasized with or without the preposition "for," which, however, might be my misunderstanding.
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Hi Snappy,
Present perfect progressive can be used to highlight / or emphasize a point.
John has been working on the landscaping of this house for 3 years and still hasn’t come close to getting it finished. It doesn’t mean that he continuously works day and night; non-stop on this project.
In this type of context, one may choose to replace “has been working
Present perfect progressive can be used to highlight / or emphasize a point.
John has been working on the landscaping of this house for 3 years and still hasn’t come close to getting it finished. It doesn’t mean that he continuously works day and night; non-stop on this project.
In this type of context, one may choose to replace “has been working
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