present perfect continuous without a time phrase

Question

Dear teachers,I am very confused about the use of present perfect continuous without a time phrase.Some grammar books say that present perfect continuous without a time phrase indicates that an action that began in the past and has just finished before the time of speaking and that this type of sentence has the meaning of "RECENTLY":I have been reading War and Peace and I have almost finished itBut some other grammar books say present perfect continuous without a time phrase can express an action that began in the past and is still going on now.. I have been writing a report about international characters usage(I am still writing it) . It has been raining (it is still raining )Please help me understand itis problemThank you in advance

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Tuongvanhas just finished before the time of speaking ... RECENTLY ... ... began in the past and is still going on now

Both of these are correct -- each in its own way.
Certain actions can take place sporadically. You don't do all of the action at once. You do a little. Then you don't. Then you do a little more. Then you don't.
Let's take the action of reading a book, for example. Suppose you read a little of War and Peace. Then you put the book down. You have other things to do. The next day you pick up the book and read a little more. Then you put the book down. Maybe you lose interest for a few days. Later you pick up the book and read a little more. Then you put it down. You have other things to do. Maybe a full month goes by, and then you start reading more of the book. Then you put it down again.

You can say, at this point, I have been reading War and Peace. The book is not open, and you are not actively reading it when you say this, but it's true: You have been reading War and Peace. What you have finished before the time of speaking -- that is, what you have finished recently -- is just one of several different reading sessions. And at the same time, you have not finished reading the whole book, so you can also say, at this point, I am still reading War and Peace. What you have not finished is the action of reading the whole book.
When you have finished the whole book, you can say: I have read War and Peace. (I am not still reading War and Peace.)

And no matter how many years pass after that, you can always say, for the rest of your life: I have read War and Peace. (But not I have been reading War and Peace.)
____
The same logic applies when you write a report. You write a little. You take a break. You write a little more. And so on. During this time you say: I have been writing a report. Maybe you have recently completed a writing session, but you have not completed the whole report. You are still writing the report (still doing writing sessions). When you say I have written a report, it means that all your writing sessions are complete. You have finished the whole report. Now you are not still writing the report.
CJ

Tuongvan · Answer

Thank you Califjim very much
By the way, could you explain to me the difference between these two sentences?:

Over the past few days I have received a lot of letters from customers asking about this.
Over the past few days I have been receiving a lot of letters from customers asking about this.

Thank you in advance

CalifJim · Answer

1. Over the past few days I have received a lot of letters from customers asking about this.
2. Over the past few days I have been receiving a lot of letters from customers asking about this.
In sentence 1 you are thinking in terms of having all the letters that you are talking about. Sentence 1 places the focus on a period of time in the past during which the letters were received. That period of time may extend to the present moment, but it need not extend so far.
In sentence 2 you are thinking in terms of possibly having only some of the letters. You are thinking that maybe there will be more letters, and maybe you will continue to receive letters. Sentence 2 places the focus on continuing on-going actions. The receipt of letters has not necessarily stopped. It may continue.
CJ

Tuongvan · Answer

Thank you Califjim very much

Thomas Tompion · Answer

Tuongvan It has been raining (it is still raining )

It might be worth adding, Tuongvan, that it has been raining (no time given) doesn't mean it is still raining. Rather it suggests that it has stopped.
You go outside, you see everything is wet, you say it has been raining, because that's why everything is wet.
In the same way if you see that the lawn is mown, you might say of the gardener he has been mowing the lawn. He isn't still mowing it but you conclude from its mown state that one of the things he has been doing is mowing the lawn.

present perfect continuous without a time phrase

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