Present perfect and present perfect continuous

Question

Hi,This school exam item on grammar asked students to choose the correct tense between brackets:''Where have you been? I (have waited,have been waiting)for you all morning.''The grading scale regarded have been waiting as the correct choice and the other one  incorrect.I argued that both could be used with time expressions and with verbs that show duration_in this case wait.They said all is preserved only for the present perfect continuous.I need your help,please.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

This school exam item on grammar asked students to choose the correct tense between brackets:

''Where have you been? I (have waited,have been waiting)for you all morning.''

The grading scale regarded have been waiting as the correct choice and the other one incorrect.

I argued that both could be used with time expressions and with verbs that show duration_in this case wait.

They said all is preserved only for the present perfect continuous.

Not correct. We commonly say eg Yesterday, I read a book all morning. Then I cooked all afternoon.

However, in your example the continuous version seems more natural to me.

'All morning' stresses the length of the period, but the continuous tense adds further emphasis. It makes it sound like the speaker is probably annoyed.

Also, it reflects the use of 'have been' in the question. We often use words from a question when we answer it.

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous... have been waiting ... the correct choice and the other one incorrect.

That's right, and "all" has nothing to do with it. The difference is illustrated below.

You don't seem able to be punctual at all. I have waited for you all morning every day this week, and I'm getting tired of it. If you aren't on time tomorrow, I'm going to go ahead without you. (Multiple sessions of waiting. Multiple experiences of waiting. Relevance for the present situation, but not actions that continue up to the present moment.)

.........[waiting]............[waiting]...........[waiting].......[present]

< ............scope of days during this week................>

___________________________________________

- I'll be there at 11. I promise.

- I'll believe it when I see it. I have waited for you before, and I suspect you'll make me wait again. (May be a single experience or multiple experiences of having had to wait on a previous occasion or on previous occasions. Relevance for the present situation, but not an action or actions that continue up to the present.)

........[waiting]............( [waiting]...... )....................[present]

< ...may be a scope of weeks or months or more......>

____________________________________________

I have been waiting for you since 9 this morning. (One continuous stretch of waiting.) (Note: No use of "all", which, as I said above, is irrelevant.)

.........[waiting - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -][present]

< ....scope: one morning only ....>

CJ

Present perfect and present perfect continuous

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