Grammar: Tenses "It is raining..." and "It has been raining..."

Question

Hello,

Let's assume that it's raining a lot in Portland, but it isn't raining over there continuously or without stopping.

Can I say either of these to describe that situation? What's the difference in the meanings of these sentences if there is any, please?

= It is raining a lot in Portland.
= It has been raining a lot in Portland.

Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

TomJCan I say either of these to describe that situation?

Yes.

TomJ What's the difference in the meanings of these sentences if there is any, please?

The same as with any case of present continuous vs present perfect continuous: the first is NOW and the second is UP TILL NOW.

TomJ · Answer

Thank you, Mister Micawber, for your reply!

Mister Micawberthe first is NOW and the second is UP TILL NOW.

Doesn't "now" mean at this moment? If it isn't raining right now, right now it's stopped, can we still use the present continuous tense for that situation?, because I've learnt that present continuous tense is used when something is happening or going on right now; at the time of speaking.

Does "up till now" mean "something hasn't finished yet", please?

Mister Micawber · Answer

TomJIf it isn't raining right now, right now it's stopped, can we still use the present continuous tense for that situation?,

No.

TomJDoes "up till now" mean "something hasn't finished yet", please?

It may or may not have finished, but it probably has. It depends upon the nature of the action.

TomJ · Answer

Mister MicawberNo

But, sir, in your earlier response, you had said that we could use either "present continuous (it is raining...)" or "present perfect continuous (it has been raining...)" to describe the situation that it's raining in Portland, but not continuously or not without stopping.

I think I wasn't clear enough about what I wanted to ask. Let me try to explian that situation, please. It started to rain in Portland a while ago, let's say two or three days ago. It has rained over there since it started, but not continuously. Though it isn't raining right now or at this very moment, there're still dark clouds in the sky and people may be thinking that it might rain again a few minutes or hours later.

So my question to you was that if it was possible for us or for the people of portland to say either "It is raining a lot in Portland" and "It has been raining a lot in Portland" to describe that situation or scenario.

What would be your interpretation when you hear It is raining a lot in Portland and when you hear It has been raining a lot in Portland, say, on a radio?

Thank you once again! ....

Mister Micawber · Answer

TomJBut, sir, in your earlier response, you had said that we could use either "present continuous (it is raining...)" or "present perfect continuous (it has been raining...)" to describe the situation that it's raining in Portland,\

No, I did not. I said this: The same as with any case of present continuous vs present perfect continuous: the first is NOW and the second is UP TILL NOW.

TomJSo my question to you was that if it was possible for us or for the people of portland to say either "It is raining a lot in Portland" and "It has been raining a lot in Portland" to describe that situation or scenario.

The wise speaker would use the present perfect progressive.

TomJWhat would be your interpretation when you hear It is raining a lot in Portland

They're having a downpour at the moment.

TomJand when you hear It has been raining a lot in Portland,

Recently there have been frequent rainstorms.

Thomas Tompion · Answer

In British English, I think the situation is slightly different: -

TomJ= It is raining a lot in Portland.

I can't think of a context in which we would say this, to mean that it is raining at this instant. That would have to be something like It is raining hard in Portland.

It is raining a lot would mean that in recent times there has been a great deal of rain, with the implication that the behaviour will persist into the immediate future,

TomJ= It has been raining a lot in Portland.

This would be fine to mean that in recent times there has been a great deal of rain in Portland.

This differs from the continuous present version in that it lacks the suggestion that it will go on raining into the immediate future.

So a lot is mostly used to indicate the persistent recurrence of rain, and hard to indicate its intensity.

TomJ · Answer

Hi, and thanks for putting your views about how you see those two situations.

Thomas TompionI can't think of a context in which we would say this, to mean that it is raining at this instant. That would have to be something like It is raining hard in Portland.

OK, and how about if I just say "It's raining in Portland"? Without "a lot" or "hard", could it be interpreted as either 1) It's raining in Portland right now; at this moment or 2) It is raining, but not right now; not at this moment. It is raining around now or in this period of time?

I'd like you to tell me how you distinguish the 'present continuous tense' from other present tenses, say, the 'present simple', 'present perfect continous', and 'present perfect' tenses, please.

Thomas Tompion · Answer

TomJhow about if I just say "It's raining in Portland"? Without "a lot" or "hard", could it be interpreted as either 1) It's raining in Portland right now; at this moment or 2) It is raining, but not right now; at this moment. It is raining around now or in this period of time?

It's raining in Portland - the rain is falling at this moment.

~~It's raining in Portland but not right now~~ would be a strange thing to say. It seems to contradict itself.

Present simple: it rains in Portland - rain falls sometimes on Portland.

Present perfect continuous: it has been raining in Portland - we have had rain recently in Portland.

Present Perfect: it has rained in Portland (this would be a bit odd without an adverbial of time) - we have had rain in Portland.

Remember that I speak British English.

PeterT · Answer

It's been raining on and off in Portland lately.

Grammar: Tenses "It is raining..." and "It has been raining..."

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