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Nina_Nia Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Present perfect and present perfect continuous

Hello,

Are present perfect and present perfect continuous used interchangeably only when they are used with the expressions of unfinished time? For example; I have lived in London for three years and
I have been living in London for three years. I noticed that when 'for' or since' is used in a sentence both tenses can be used, but in the sentences below ( in which there are no expressions of unfinished time) only present perfect continuous is the correct choice.

Examples....

She has been polishing this table all morning and she is not satisfied with it yet. ( I thought that 'all morning' is also an expression of unfinished time and that both can be used here)

He has been riding, that's why he is wearing breeches.
I have been greasing my car. That's why my hands are dirty.
I have been hearing from her regularly. She is a very good correspondent.
I have been pumping. Would you like to do the forth?
I have been pulling up dandelions all day.
I have been making sausage rolls for the party all the morning.
I only have been hearing about him twice since he went away.

Thanks
  

Top answer

Nina_Nia have been hearing from her regularly. She is a very good correspondent. The non-progressive form is possible.

  • Nina_Nia have been hearing from her regularly.
  • She is a very good correspondent.
  • The non-progressive form is possible.
  • Nina_Nia I only have been hearing about him twice since he went away.
  • The progressive form is unnatural with 'twice'.
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1 Answers
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Nina_Nia have been hearing from her regularly. She is a very good correspondent.
The non-progressive form is possible.
Nina_NiaI only have been hearing about him twice since he went away.
The progressive form is unnatural with 'twice'.

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