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Perfect Stranger Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Grammar question no. 33 - I've just had ice-cream VS I was just having ice cream

Hello again,

I'm overwhelmed by the number of questions I have... Here's one more...

A asks: What are you doing?
What should B answer?
  • I've just had some ice-cream. - would it mean that the recent action of eating ice-cream is over?
  • I was just having some ice-cream - should this be the answer? what would a native speaker say?


Thanks
  

Top answer

I've just had some ice-cream. - would it mean that the recent action of eating ice-cream is over? Yes I was just having some ice-cream - should this be the answer?

— AlpheccaStars

  • I've just had some ice-cream.
  • - would it mean that the recent action of eating ice-cream is over?
  • Yes I was just having some ice-cream - should this be the answer?
  • Yes what would a native speaker say?
  • This one.
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8 Answers
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I've just had some ice-cream. - would it mean that the recent action of eating ice-cream is over? Yes

I was just having some ice-cream - should this be the answer? Yes what would a native speaker say? This one.
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Thanks AS. You surprised me! Can you please offer me a hand here and explain why the second answer is the natural one? Actually... I was 100% sure the first sentence (i.e. I've just had... or I've just been having ice cream) is the proper one...
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A asks: What are you doing? Did I interrupt you?
B: No, I was just doing my homework.
B: Yes, I was bathing my cat and he's all soapy.

A asks: What did you just do?
B I just ate dinner.
I just had some ice cream for dessert.
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Thanks AS.

What about present perfect used for recent actions? So many grammar books say that present perfect should be used for recent actions (especially with the word just)
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Hope someone can add a few lines to this thread.
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Perfect StrangerWhat about present perfect used for recent actions?
OK, here you go..

A: You have white stuff all over your mouth!!
B: I've just had the most delicious vanilla ice cream. Do you have a tissue?

A: (sees B coming out of the cinema) What did you think about the movie?
B: I've just seen the most fantastic science fiction
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I'm sorry AS but you lost me there...

I don't know what the difference between these 3 sentences is:

I've been having ice cream.
I've had ice-cream.
I was having ice-cream.
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Perfect StrangerI've had ice-cream.
A: You have white stuff all over your mouth!!
B: I've just had the most delicious vanilla ice cream. Do you have a tissue?

OK Person A sees person B. Person B is not eating anything, but around his mouth is some white substance.
B tells A that it is ice cream because he just finished eating vanilla ice cream
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