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Viceidol Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
I've been "wanting" to visit Paris all my life.
Hello, everyone. My grammar book says the following example is true:
I've been wanting to visit Paris all my life.
The book says "normally want cannot be used in progrssive tense, but it does in this case (present perfect continuous tense)" (p.s. The book is not written by a native speaker)
May I ask if what the book says is true? Please help me with this, thank you very much!!
I've been wanting to visit Paris all my life.
The book says "normally want cannot be used in progrssive tense, but it does in this case (present perfect continuous tense)" (p.s. The book is not written by a native speaker)
May I ask if what the book says is true? Please help me with this, thank you very much!!
Top answer
As far as I'm concerned, it's natural, correct, and very common. Could you give an example of a use which your grammar book says is wrong? Best wishes, - A.
- As far as I'm concerned, it's natural, correct, and very common.
- Could you give an example of a use which your grammar book says is wrong?
- Best wishes, - A.
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5 Answers
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As far as I'm concerned, it's natural, correct, and very common.
Could you give an example of a use which your grammar book says is wrong?
Best wishes, - A.
Could you give an example of a use which your grammar book says is wrong?
Best wishes, - A.
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In the present continuous (I'm wanting to see her), it is very awkward. In this case, "I've been wanting" is perfectly natural and quite common.
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AvangiCould you give an example of a use which your grammar book says is wrong?
Like:
I want to go to Europe. (O)
I am wanting to go to Europe. (I guess this one is problematic, what do you think?)
p.s. They aren't from my grammar book but made by myself.
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Hi Viceidol
As already suggested by Avangi and Philip, when the verb want is used in a continuous form, it will usually be a perfect continuous (i.e. have been wanting/had been wanting) rather than the present continuous or the past continuous.
As already suggested by Avangi and Philip, when the verb want is used in a continuous form, it will usually be a perfect continuous (i.e. have been wanting/had been wanting) rather than the present continuous or the past continuous.
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Hi Viceidol,
Thus far we have examples of three tenses: simple present, present progressive, and present perfect progressive. As Philip says, the present progressive seems awkward with "I am wanting." I don't know if it's considered incorrect.
The other two seem fine, correct, and natural. I want to go to Europe. (simple present) I've been wanting to go to
Thus far we have examples of three tenses: simple present, present progressive, and present perfect progressive. As Philip says, the present progressive seems awkward with "I am wanting." I don't know if it's considered incorrect.
The other two seem fine, correct, and natural. I want to go to Europe. (simple present) I've been wanting to go to
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