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Snappy Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Present perfect progressive form

Are the following expressions gramatically incorrect?

I have been walking my dog these three years.

He has been playing at the Wimbledon since he was 18 years old.

A private English school's website in Japan says the above expressions should be changed to:

I have walked my dog these three years.

He has played at the Wimbledon since he was 18 years old.

The site explains that the present perfect progressive form cannot be used to describe people's habitual activities unless the activities have been in progress without a break.
  

Top answer

I have been walking my dog these three years. -- OK He has been playing at Wimbledon since he was 18 years old. -- OK A private English school's website in Japan says the above expressions should be changed to: I have walked my dog these three years.

— Mister Micawber

  • I have been walking my dog these three years.
  • -- OK He has been playing at Wimbledon since he was 18 years old.
  • -- OK A private English school's website in Japan says the above expressions should be changed to: I have walked my dog these three years.
  • -- OK He has played at Wimbledon since he was 18 years old.
  • -- Not true; it merely emphasizes the durational quality.
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6 Answers
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I have been walking my dog these three years.-- OK

He has been playing at Wimbledon since he was 18 years old.-- OK

A private English school's website in Japan says the above expressions should be changed to:

I have walked my dog these three years.-- OK

He has played at Wimbledon since he was 18 years old.-- OK
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Thank you Mister Micawber for your quick reply as usual.

Your explanation is very clear and I fully got it.
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Mister Micawber
I have walked my dog these three years.-- OK

He has played at Wimbledon since he was 18 years old.-- OK

The site explains that the present perfect progressive form cannot be used to describe people's habitual activities unless the activities have been in progress without a break.-- Not true; it merely em
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No. Please pay attention to your own posts:
The site explains that the present perfect progressive form cannot be used to describe people's habitual activities unless the activities have been in progress without a break.

If ambiguity arises about 'unbroken habitual' because of use of the progressive, then use the non-progressive form. In your examples, no reasonable
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Mister MicawberIf ambiguity arises about 'unbroken habitual' because of use of the progressive, then use the non-progressive form. In your examples, no reasonable mind would expect the dog-walking or tennis-playing to be interminable.
Thank you. I understood.
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Hi,

Are the following expressions gramatically incorrect? No.







I have been walking my dog these three years.

He has been playing at the Wimbledon since he was 18 years old.



A private English school's website in Japan says the above expressions should be changed to:



I have walked my d
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