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Which one is correct?I have been calling you but you are not answering.I have been calling you but you haven't been answering.Thanks.

Wilpeter · Accepted Answer

For a telephone call to be completed, an answer is required in the same time frame; whereas written correspondence permits an overlapping of several attempts before receiving a response.  For that reason, only the second sentence is correct.

Anonymous · Answer

wilpeterFor a telephone call to be completed, an answer is required in the same time frame; whereas written correspondence permits an overlapping of several attempts before receiving a response. For that reason, only the second sentence is correct.

Thanks a lot. Would you please give an example to show what you mean by the written correspondence.

Wilpeter · Answer

“I have been calling you” = I telephoned you last Friday, twice on Saturday, and again yesterday, but you answered none of those calls.
“I have been writing you” = I wrote you last Friday, again on Monday and once more two days ago, but you have not answered even one of them. (Even though you might have been away, you still have all the information that I sent you.)

Anonymous · Answer

wilpeter“I have been calling you” = I telephoned you last Friday, twice on Saturday, and again yesterday, but you answered none of those calls.“I have been writing you” = I wrote you last Friday, again on Monday and once more two days ago, but you have not answered even one of them. (Even though you might have been away, you still have all the information that I sent you.)

Thanks you. But where is the difference between them!!

You mentioned that 'you have not been answering' would not work with the writing example. How would that apply?

I have been writing you but you haven't been replying.

Wilpeter · Answer

Perhaps I am not understanding your question, for which I apologize.
The expression, ‘calling’, has at least two distinct meanings: ‘telephoning’ and ‘yelling to make oneself heard’ without a telephone. It can also mean ‘visiting’ in person. In each of these methods of communication, your message does not reach the recipient unless he/she is able to hear/see you. The message is therefore ‘lost’. The message must be repeated entirely, if it is to be received eventually.
The expression, ‘writing’ or ‘mailing’ (or even ‘telegraphing’), involves putting the message on paper and sending that paper. While there is a time-delay, the message may or may not be answered by the same means. There is no ‘confirmation’ or ‘reply’ automatically given. A person may decide to respond or not. If they do respond, it may be much later that you know that they received the message. There is not one time when both the caller and receiver exchange the message.
“I am calling you and you are answering me.” = Both people at current time communicating.
“I am calling you but you are not answering.” = Right now, your phone is ringing but you are not picking it up.
“I have been calling you …” = I called you several times. The implication is that you did not answer the phone (or I would have stopped).
“I have been calling you but you did not answer.” = Each call I made was not answered.

“I have been writing you but you haven’t been replying.” = It would be unnatural to write more than once, unless the news were vital/important; but it would be even more unnatural to write a separate response to each letter (if the subject/content were the same). Instead, one would respond once only.
“I wrote you six letters and you didn’t respond once.” = I need one reply only.
“I telephoned you six times and you didn’t respond to any one of them.” = Had you answered the first call, I would have stopped calling.

Anonymous · Answer

wilpeterPerhaps I am not understanding your question, for which I apologize.

Thanks a lot for your detailed explanation. And I am sorry for not asking my questions clearly.

wilpeter“I have been calling you but you did not answer.” = Each call I made was not answered.

Got it. And if I used “but you haven’t been answering” that means that it’s happening at the same time. Right?

wilpeter“I have been writing you but you haven’t been replying.” = It would be unnatural to write more than once, unless the news were vital/important; but it would be even more unnatural to write a separate response to each letter (if the subject/content were the same). Instead, one would respond once only.

So would you say that it would be Ok to use one of these since it would be unnatural to write a separate response to each letter:

I have been writing you but you haven’t answered.
I have been writing you but you didn’t answer.

Would these work?

wilpeter“I wrote you six letters and you didn’t respond once.” = I need one reply only.

I think the two sentence I just asked above have the same meaning as this. Do you agree?

Wilpeter · Answer

AnonymousGot it. And if I used “but you haven’t been answering” that means that it’s happening at the same time. Right?

With telephone calls, yes.

AnonymousI have been writing you but you haven’t answered. I have been writing you but you didn’t answer. Would these work?

While I prefer the first, both work.

AnonymousI think the two sentence I just asked above have the same meaning as this. Do you agree?

Yes.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much for your help and clarification.

wilpeterGot it. And if I used “but you haven’t been answering” that means that it’s happening at the same time. Right?With telephone calls, yes.

Yes, I meant it is only correct with telephone calls, as you mentioned.

It is not possible with messages, mailing or telepgraphs because as you said:

"There is no ‘confirmation’ or ‘reply’ automatically given. There is not one time when both the caller and receiver exchange the message.” Along with the other explanations that you provided. Have I understood correctly?

wilpeterWhile I prefer the first, both work.

Got it. Me too!

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