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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Present result of a past activity

Hello teachers,

I have two questions :

Both the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous are used to express a present result of a past activity.In:'Your eyes are red.Have you been crying?/Have you cried?',which is the better choice and what is the difference,if any?

What's the difference between 'continual' and 'continuous'?

Thanks for your hearty efforts
  

Top answer

Have you been crying is the better. Have you cried - relates to any time in the past. Have you been crying - relates to past upto the present.

— Dave Phillips

  • Have you been crying is the better.
  • Have you cried - relates to any time in the past.
  • Have you been crying - relates to past upto the present.
  • ”
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4 Answers
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Have you been crying is the better. Have you cried - relates to any time in the past.

Have you been crying - relates to past upto the present.

“Continuous” refers to actions which are uninterrupted: “My
upstairs neighbour played his stereo continuously from 6:00 PM to 3:30 AM.”
Continual actions, however, need not be uninterrupted, only repeated: “My
father continual
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Have you cried? = Have you [had a cry / cried for some period of time] at any time during your life?

Have you been crying? = Have you recently been doing some crying?

For 'continual' / 'continuous', see

CJ
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lots of thanks for your help
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