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Borut K. Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Present continuous or Present perfect continuous?

Let's say i'm listening to Beatles for two hours already (I am still listenig, and not about to stop), and somebody calls me..

Can I say "I'm listening to Beatles for 2 hours already", or should I better say "I have been listening to Beatles for 2 hours"?

I'm wondering if first option could be correct, because I want to make it clear that I am still listening?

Please help, I'm a bit confused here..

Borut
  

Top answer

' The 'so far' should take care of the 'still listening' idea.

— Davkett

  • ' The 'so far' should take care of the 'still listening' idea.
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6 Answers
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This might do it:

'I have been listening to the Beatles for two hours so far.'

The 'so far' should take care of the 'still listening' idea.
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Thank you.

So "I'm listening to Beatles for 2 hours already" is wrong and can not be used, even if action is going on at the moment?

I mean, somebody naturaly speaking english would never say like that?
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From a native English speaker, the answer is...no, it would not be said or written that way and be correct or natural.
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Thanx. I though so. I was confused by following definition:

“The Present Perfect Continuous tense is used to express continuous, ongoing actions which have already been completed at the time of speaking or writing.”


And according to this definition I believed using Present perfect con. would be wrong, since the action hasn't bee
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Please do not double-post, Borut-- it makes extra work for our staff, and we don't get overtime.

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Borut K.Thanx. I though so. I was confused by following definition:

“The Present Perfect Continuous tense is used to express continuous, ongoing actions which have already been completed at the time of speaking or writing.”

And according to this definition I believed using Present perfect con. would be wrong, since the action hasn't been completed
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