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RulesHunter Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Have gotten/got vs. have been getting
Hi All,
I have a question about the correct aspect in the following sentence:
The basketball players ______________ (get) better and better ever since they started training more intensively last fall. If they continue improving at this rate, they'll definitely be state champions this year.
I thought it should definitely be "have been getting better and better", the present perfect progressive, because it's a continuing process up until now that is expected to continue into the future (see next sentence). A fellow grammar enthusiast, however, thinks "have got" (BE)/"have gotten" (AE), the present perfect simple, is also acceptable, and even thinks "have been getting better and better" is a bit redundant. I think it sounds a bit strange, since to me, it implies more or less that this improvement is now complete, whereas "have been getting" emphasizes the continuous nature of the improvement. Take, for instance, the following:
(while watching basketball) They've gotten better. ----> to me, this sounds more like this improvement is now finished. Now, they're in a state of "betterness" that is more or less stable.
(while watching basketball) They've been getting better. ----> to me, it sounds like this improvement is incomplete, and that this state of "betterness" refers rather to their improvement which is presumably incomplete.
What do you think? I realize there is probably no completely right or wrong answer to this, but it'd be great to hear what others (native or not) think "sounds right". Well, it'd also be great to hear an expert opinion:).
Thanks so much!
RH
I have a question about the correct aspect in the following sentence:
The basketball players ______________ (get) better and better ever since they started training more intensively last fall. If they continue improving at this rate, they'll definitely be state champions this year.
I thought it should definitely be "have been getting better and better", the present perfect progressive, because it's a continuing process up until now that is expected to continue into the future (see next sentence). A fellow grammar enthusiast, however, thinks "have got" (BE)/"have gotten" (AE), the present perfect simple, is also acceptable, and even thinks "have been getting better and better" is a bit redundant. I think it sounds a bit strange, since to me, it implies more or less that this improvement is now complete, whereas "have been getting" emphasizes the continuous nature of the improvement. Take, for instance, the following:
(while watching basketball) They've gotten better. ----> to me, this sounds more like this improvement is now finished. Now, they're in a state of "betterness" that is more or less stable.
(while watching basketball) They've been getting better. ----> to me, it sounds like this improvement is incomplete, and that this state of "betterness" refers rather to their improvement which is presumably incomplete.
What do you think? I realize there is probably no completely right or wrong answer to this, but it'd be great to hear what others (native or not) think "sounds right". Well, it'd also be great to hear an expert opinion:).
Thanks so much!
RH
Top answer
Both sound fine in the context given. The writer is speaking of improvement to date. When both are acceptable, as here, the progressive form serves as a sort of intensifier – it adds a note of enthusiasm or other emotional component to the statement.
- Both sound fine in the context given.
- The writer is speaking of improvement to date.
- When both are acceptable, as here, the progressive form serves as a sort of intensifier – it adds a note of enthusiasm or other emotional component to the statement.
- while watching basketball) They've gotten better.
- -- -- > to me, this sounds more like this improvement is now finished.
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2 Answers
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Both sound fine in the context given. The writer is speaking of improvement to date. When both are acceptable, as here, the progressive form serves as a sort of intensifier – it adds a note of enthusiasm or other emotional component to the statement.
while watching basketball) They've gotten better. -- -- > to me, this sounds more like this improvement is now finished. Now, they're
while watching basketball) They've gotten better. -- -- > to me, this sounds more like this improvement is now finished. Now, they're
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