PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Question

Hi!Could you please tell me if the following sentence can also be written in Present Perfect / although it sounds strange)? If not, why?Jane's been working very hard for the past month.Jane's worked very hard for the past month.Thanks in advance

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Both are fine. Neither sounds strange to me.

Clive

Avangi · Answer

Anonymous Jane's been working very hard for the past month.
Jane's worked very hard for the past month.

There's no doubt you can do it, but I agree the first is more common, and the second sounds just a bit strange to my ear.

The only way I can explain it is that with the continuous we get a greater sense that the work is continuing.

So we're talking about a period of a month's duration leading up to the present moment.
You can interpret the second one the same way, but in my opinion there's a greater tendency to view the possibility that the work has stopped.
When you do this, the expression "the past month" becomes a little bit ambiguous. Are we talking about a period of a month, or a calendar month? Just that slight hesitation is a little bit awkward to me.

Jane's worked very hard during the past month seems more acceptable, for the same reason.
(month's duration instead of calendar month)

English 1b3 · Answer

Hi, guys

I had the same problem with the following sentence, where I wished not to include time adverbials to keep it brief:

I have led/have been leading/ lead various sports teams.

I wish to express that I led them in the past on occasions and still do in the present.

Which should I use?

Thanks

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Have you consdered Simple Present, for habit/routine? I lead various sports teams.

Clive

English 1b3 · Answer

Hi

Yes, but I feel that sounds wrong. Don't you? Makes it sound like a habit, which it is not, or a routine, which it is not since it happens randomly...

How come the present perfect here doesn't express that I still lead sports teams?

Do only certain verbs (such as verbs that express a state) function like that in the present perfect?

I have angry.--upset in the past and still upset

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Yes, but I feel that sounds wrong. Don't you? Just makes it sound to me like something I do occasionally, which is what you mean, is it not?

How come the present perfect here doesn't express that I still lead sports teams?

It relates the past to the present.

Do only certain verbs (such as verbs that express a state) function like that in the present perfect?

I have owned a sports car. I have loved a woman. Doesn't necessarily mean I still do.

I have angry.-- ??? upset in the past and still upset

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

"I have led various sports teams."

English 1b3How come the present perfect here doesn't express that I still lead sports teams?

"I have watched those movies."

For the same reason that the present perfect in the sentence immediately above doesn't express that I still watch those movies. It has to do with the nature of the predicate. These predicates (lead a team, watch a movie) express actions that last for a certain definite amount of time and then finish.

CJ

English 1b3 · Answer

Sorry, Clive.

That was a typo. I meant 'I have been angry.'

CalifJimThese predicates (lead a team, watch a movie) express actions that last for a certain definite amount of time and then finish.

Ah, I see. I had an inkling it was for this reason. But who am I to decide whether I'm right when I make so many mistakes...

Thanks to all of you

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

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