Present Perfect?

Question

A: Let's get a taxi home, darling.B: Why?A: It's obvious. You (drink) HAVE BEEN DRINKINGA: I'm fine. I have only had two cans of beer. Why did we use present perfect continous not present perfect simple? Is "You have drunk" wrong?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

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Vsuresh · Answer

AnonymousIs "You have drunk" wrong?

No. I think present perfect is fine there.

Laborious · Answer

For that situation, I'd say, "you are drunk" sounds far better to me.

Vsuresh · Answer

LaboriousFor that situation, I'd say, "you are drunk" sounds far better to me.

Yes, it sounds more appropriate.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIs "You have drunk" wrong?

Yes, it's wrong. I have drunk, too. And you have drunk, too. Everyone on our planet has drunk.

'have drunk' says 'have consumed something liquid at some time during one's life', 'have had the experience of consuming a liquid at some time in the past'. It doesn't say when. It might have been some time ago.

AnonymousWhy did we use present perfect continous

It means that the action of drinking started some time ago and has continued repeatedly until the time I say this sentence.

X = the present moment

............ [ You have drunk ] ........................................................X
......................< - - - - - - - - You have been drinking - - - - - - - - >

Since it's a matter of alcohol in this case, the speaker needs to indicate continuation up to the moment of speaking. Otherwise, the effects of the alcohol might have worn off, and there would be no need to take a taxi.

CJ

Vsuresh · Answer

CalifJim'have drunk' says 'have consumed something liquid at some time during one's life', 'have had the experience of consuming a liquid at some time in the past'. It doesn't say when. It might have been some time ago.

I understand it now. Thank you,CJ

Laborious · Answer

Mr. CJ, do you mean that the use of present perfect continuous "have been drinking", even with something added to it, is correct?

Laborious · Answer

Sorry, it was, actually, 'without', not 'with'.

CalifJim · Answer

LaboriousMr. CJ, do you mean that the use of present perfect continuous "have been drinking", even with(out) something added to it, is correct?

No. I mean it's correct in the given sentence. In any situation just saying "have been drinking" makes no sense. At the bare minimum you need a subject!

CJ

Laborious · Answer

Thank you for replying. Could you explain to me why using the present perfect continuous tense in that situation is correct, while the use of present perfect is incorrect, in that that context? Though I read your post above in which you contrasted the two tenses, still I seem to be confused about the contrast between them in that particular situation.

Present Perfect?

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