0
Perfect Stranger Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Grammar question no. 49 - past cont., pres. perfect cont. and pres. perfect

Hello,

I've got a question concerning mixing these tenses: past continuous, present perfect and present perfect continuous. First of all, is it possible to put these three tenses in one sentence? Is it correct? Now, would you say:

a) I've just finished cleaning the bathroom. I've been cleaning it for one hour.
b) I've just finished cleaning the bathroom. I was cleaning it for one hour.
c) I was just cleaning the bathroom. I've just finished.

I guess that a) is sort of self-contradictory because the first part of the sentence indicates that the action is finished while the second part seems to be indicating that I'm still cleaning the bathroom... I might be wrong though...

Could you please offer me some advice on this matter?

Thanks
  

Top answer

Perfect Stranger I guess that a) is sort of self-contradictory because the first part of the sentence indicates that the action is finished while the second part seems to be indicating that I'm still cleaning the bathroom... I might be wrong though.. I've just finished cleaning the bathroom.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Perfect Stranger I guess that a) is sort of self-contradictory because the first part of the sentence indicates that the action is finished while the second part seems to be indicating that I'm still cleaning the bathroom...
  • I might be wrong though..
  • I've just finished cleaning the bathroom.
  • I'd been cleaning it for one hour.
  • This is what the past perfect continuous is used for.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

9 Answers
0
Perfect StrangerI guess that a) is sort of self-contradictory because the first part of the sentence indicates that the action is finished while the second part seems to be indicating that I'm still cleaning the bathroom... I might be wrong though..
I've just finished cleaning the bathroom. I'd been cleaning it for one hour.

This is what
0
0
Thanks... but I was asking about present perfect continuous...
0
0
Perfect StrangerThanks... but I was asking about present perfect continuous...
Yes, I know. I was commenting your sharp observation about the incongruity of those sequences. It is preferable to use the past perfect continuous to define (or emphasize) the time sequence of these activities.
0
0
Thanks AS... So what's the difference between:

I was just cleaning the bathroom.
and
I've been just cleaning the bathroom.
0
0
Perfect StrangerI've been just cleaning the bathroom.
That one has an unnatural placement of the adverb "just." There may be some context for it, but I can't think of one offhand.
0
0
Hmm... OK, let me change it.

I've just been cleaning the bathroom.

The problem is that I'm confused by the way past continuous and present perfect continuous are used if I want to express a recently finished action...
0
0
Perfect StrangerThe problem is that I'm confused by the way past continuous and present perfect continuous are used if I want to express a recently finished action...
You are not going to get much clearer answers than those posted by AS.

Despite what some coursebooks and student grammars appear to suggest, there is sometimes no clear div
0
0
Perfect StrangerThe problem is that I'm confused by the way past continuous and present perfect continuous are used if I want to express a recently finished action...
There is no clear distinction. Sometimes it is for emphasis. "Have been cleaning" might indicate that the action has been going on for a longer time, or with more effort.

eg.
1. The
0
0
I've just finished cleaning the bathroom. I was cleaning it for one hour.
The above is also correct.
0

Related Questions