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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Present perfect continuous with time words.
Hello all,
I came across this question from a new english file upper intermediate book, not sure which edition.
1. ______ at least 3 books so far this month.
A. I've read
B. I've been reading
I know the answer is A. My question is why can't it be B?
I have done some minimal research and come to notice that the perfect continuous can ne use with this month/this year (correct me if I'm wrong) :
-I've been reading alot this month
-I' ve been studying english this year
According to a forum post i read on another site it can be used with so far but that was only referenced in a question form:
-how has your holiday been going so far?
-i've been working a lot so far (?)
Doesn't sound right in positive sentemces but maybe i lack a good example. However, is it possible?
And lastly, using at least with the perfect continuous? I am sure that with the preposition for inbetween them, it can function:
-we've been playing tennis for at least 2 hours
But without the preposition?
-i've been making at least 50 pound a day
What factor makes the present perfefect contimuous unusable in the new english file question? Or is it a combination of 2 or more factors. For example "so far this month" is a signal to say that something has been achieved and is not in the process of being achieved.
Any help/comments/ideas would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Matt
I came across this question from a new english file upper intermediate book, not sure which edition.
1. ______ at least 3 books so far this month.
A. I've read
B. I've been reading
I know the answer is A. My question is why can't it be B?
I have done some minimal research and come to notice that the perfect continuous can ne use with this month/this year (correct me if I'm wrong) :
-I've been reading alot this month
-I' ve been studying english this year
According to a forum post i read on another site it can be used with so far but that was only referenced in a question form:
-how has your holiday been going so far?
-i've been working a lot so far (?)
Doesn't sound right in positive sentemces but maybe i lack a good example. However, is it possible?
And lastly, using at least with the perfect continuous? I am sure that with the preposition for inbetween them, it can function:
-we've been playing tennis for at least 2 hours
But without the preposition?
-i've been making at least 50 pound a day
What factor makes the present perfefect contimuous unusable in the new english file question? Or is it a combination of 2 or more factors. For example "so far this month" is a signal to say that something has been achieved and is not in the process of being achieved.
Any help/comments/ideas would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Matt
Top answer
I've been reading at least three books so far this month. I don't know about English but in my native language a verbatim translation of the above sentence works just fine. It would have a rather peculiar meaning, though: I haven't finished the books I have been reading and I'm not sure about the number of books I have been reading but I do know that there are at least three.
- I've been reading at least three books so far this month.
- I don't know about English but in my native language a verbatim translation of the above sentence works just fine.
- It would have a rather peculiar meaning, though: I haven't finished the books I have been reading and I'm not sure about the number of books I have been reading but I do know that there are at least three.
- Maybe people never utter a sentence like the one above because the situation I have described is highly unlikely.
- In English anything that deviates from what is common usage may sound unnatural or wrong.
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6 Answers
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I've been reading at least three books so far this month.
I don't know about English but in my native language a verbatim translation of the above sentence works just fine. It would have a rather peculiar meaning, though: I haven't finished the books I have been reading and I'm not sure about the number of books I have been reading but I do know that there are at least three.
I don't know about English but in my native language a verbatim translation of the above sentence works just fine. It would have a rather peculiar meaning, though: I haven't finished the books I have been reading and I'm not sure about the number of books I have been reading but I do know that there are at least three.
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Anonymous1. ____ at least 3 books so far this month. A. I've read B. I've been reading I know the answer is A. My question is why can't it be B?AS CB said, this would suggest that your had started, but not yet completed, three books.
AnonymousI have done some minimal research and come to notice that the perfect continuous can
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Thanks cool breeze and fivejedjon. I have tried to look for concrete answers or specific information regarding the use of this month/at least/so far with present perfect continuous but couldnt find anything. Cheers for the insight. If you also know of any good sources to check for grammar related information please share.
P.S the lack of capitals is due to writing on my phone. Cant be bo
P.S the lack of capitals is due to writing on my phone. Cant be bo
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AnonymousIf you also know of any good sources to check for grammar related information please share.A lot of people find useful answers to their questions here,
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Anonymous...read ... it can be used with so far ... Doesn't sound right in positive sentences but maybe i lack a good example. However, is it possible?It's possible, but comparatively rare. I found only three relevant examples on fraze.it (with the verb 'read').
We have been reading it every night so far. It's a wonderful lullaby of a poem, so the
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AnonymousWhat factor makes the present perfefect contimuous unusable in the new english file question?Just the fact that it has a very unusual meaning, such that it's difficult to invent a scenario in which it makes sense.
CJ
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