Has lived / has been living? SAT grammar

Question

The SAT has this sentence as correct: Born of Ibuza parents in Nigeria, novelist Buchi Emechteta moved to England in 1962 and has lived since then in North London.Living in some place from 1962 to today is an action that stretches across a long period of time. Shouldn't it say: "...and has been living in North London ever since" or something of that sort? To me, the current version ("has lived there") indicates only that she has lived there in some point in the past, and thus it contradicts with the "since then". Where is the continuous?Thank you.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

The present perfect has lived is virtually equivalent to the present perfect continuous has been living.

How long have you lived in this city?

I was born here. I have lived here all my life. (= I have been living here all my life.)

Awence · Answer

"virtually equivalent", but there are times specific distinction shouldn't be neglected.

Dan154 · Answer

Is this specifically in the case of the verb "live"?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Dan154Is this specifically in the case of the verb "live"?

No. But it is not the case for all verbs.

I have been trying to think of some examples, and came up with these examples:

Interchangeable: verbs that naturally express a continuous activity:

I have worked (been working) here for more than ten years.

Johnny has been playing (has played) the piano since he was four years old. (Has known how to play, not continuous playing!)

Professor Jones has taught (has been teaching) English Literature for many years.

Continuous: sentences that express a habitual repeated action with a limited duration:

The sandhill cranes have been flying south for the winter and stopping over at the Platte River flats to feed for eons. (It happens regularly every winter - the trip "flying south" is of a duration, and "stopping over" is a habitual interruption of the activity.)

Subtle difference in meaning:

Bob and Alice have been spending his winter holidays in Florida ever since they got married. (It implies a connection between his marriage and this habitual repeated activity! )

But:

Bob and Alice have spent their winter holidays in Florida since they got married. (Implies that it is not habitual, that is just what happened.)

Not continuous: stative verbs are not used in the continuous tenses:

I have always considered him to be a good leader.

I have known my best friend since first grade.

He has been president for 20 years or more.

I have owned my car since it was new.

Dan154 · Answer

Thank you, that is very helpful.

Has lived / has been living? SAT grammar

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