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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

present perfect or present perfect progressive

Hello

"I have not smoked for 7 years" (I know this one is correct) but is it possible to say "I have not been smoking for 7 years".What is the difference?
I know we must say" I have not been feeling well for 6 days": is it possible to say "I have not felt well for 6 days" .What is the difference?

Thanks for answering
  

Top answer

Most negation context doesn't usually use present perfect progressive construction, except for a few; like your example: I have not felt well - which is not grammatically wrong, but just awkward. In fact, when we talk about " feeling ", it is used in progressive form. However, between " I have not been smoking for 7 years" vs the present perfect version, I would say, only the latter is correct idiomatically speaking.

— Grammarfreak

  • Most negation context doesn't usually use present perfect progressive construction, except for a few; like your example: I have not felt well - which is not grammatically wrong, but just awkward.
  • In fact, when we talk about " feeling ", it is used in progressive form.
  • However, between " I have not been smoking for 7 years" vs the present perfect version, I would say, only the latter is correct idiomatically speaking.
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3 Answers
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Most negation context doesn't usually use present perfect progressive construction, except for a few; like your example: I have not felt well - which is not grammatically wrong, but just awkward. In fact, when we talk about " feeling ", it is used in progressive form. However, between " I have not been smoking for 7 years" vs the present perfect version, I would say, only the latter is correct idi
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thanks for your answer

If I changed 6 days by ages can I write present perfect
I have not felt well for ages or is it better to use the progressive form

thanks for letting me know
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Anonymousthanks for your answerIf I changed 6 days by ages can I write present perfectI have not felt well for ages or is it better to use the progressive formthanks for letting me know
In English, when one says " I have not been feeling well ", it is commonly interpreted more or less as " I have been physically weak". Here is something you should know. Feelin
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