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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Present perfect vs. present perfect continuous

I would like to ask you about the negative sentences with present perfect and present perfect continuous. For example, is it correct to say I have not cleaned my teeth for a week or I have not been cleaning my teeth for a week. I have not been paying attention for an hour or I have not paid attention for an hour? I have not slept recently or I have not been sleeping recently. I have not eaten chocolate recently or I have not been eating chocolate recently.
Thank you in advance
  

Top answer

Any of these are correct, and you would choose depending on the exact time context you wanted to emphasize. The present perfect continuous connotes continuing into the present, as in, "I have not been cleaning my teeth for a week and I have got to get myself back on track in following my usual hygiene routine before I find myself with a cavity.

— Sam1947

  • Any of these are correct, and you would choose depending on the exact time context you wanted to emphasize.
  • The present perfect continuous connotes continuing into the present, as in, "I have not been cleaning my teeth for a week and I have got to get myself back on track in following my usual hygiene routine before I find myself with a cavity.
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1 Answers
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Any of these are correct, and you would choose depending on the exact time context you wanted to emphasize. The present perfect continuous connotes continuing into the present, as in, "I have not been cleaning my teeth for a week and I have got to get myself back on track in following my usual hygiene routine before I find myself with a cavity.
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