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Newguest Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

have wanted/usually/usual

Hi

Which is better:

1. I have wanted to ask you this question for a long time.

2. I have been wanting to ask you this question for a long time.

Can I say: We were busier today than usually (instead of: usual)

thanks
  

Top answer

As far as I know, want cannot be used with -ing. Therefore, first sentence is acceptable. As for the last sentence, it is wrong with usually at the end of it.

— Doll

  • As far as I know, want cannot be used with -ing.
  • Therefore, first sentence is acceptable.
  • As for the last sentence, it is wrong with usually at the end of it.
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3 Answers
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As far as I know, want cannot be used with -ing. Therefore, first sentence is acceptable. As for the last sentence, it is wrong with usually at the end of it.
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Newguest
Hi

Which is better:

1. I have wanted to ask you this question for a long time.

2. I have been wanting to ask you this question for a long time.

Can I say: We were busier today than usually (instead of: usual)

thanks
1 & 2 are both o.k. 'Usual' sounds better, because 'usually' would imply 't
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Philip
Newguest
1 & 2 are both o.k. 'Usual' sounds better, because 'usually' would imply 'than we usually are'.
Hi

So, I understand that the word "usually" is always followed by a verb for example, and the word "usual" is not followed by anything.
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