tenses

Question

Hi there, I've got two questions regarding tenses. I would appreciate it if someone could help me with these sentences:
1. They had to clear out the flat their friend -was renting/had been renting/rented/had rented. (their friend had died, but the rent had been paid)
2. I've just come back from my holidays. I don't feel like going to the pub now because that's what I 've been doing/have done/did/was doing for two months. (and would it change if I left out the phrase "two months"?)
Also, I've been away/was away for two months?
Thank you in advance.
J.

Surfer · Accepted Answer

Anonymous1. They had to clear out the flat their friend -was renting/had been renting/rented/had rented. (their friend had died, but the rent had been paid)

Use had been renting.

Anonymous2. I've just come back from my holidays. I don't feel like going to the pub now because that's what I 've been doing/have done/did/was doing for two months.

Use either have been doing or have done.

Anonymous(and would it change if I left out the phrase "two months"?)

If you used have done, then it will become unclear whether he's done it once, or repeatedly for a period of time. With have been doing, however, that issue does not exist as the continuous tense naturally indicates repetitiveness there.

Anonymousso, I've been away/was away for two months?

Use I've been away.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your prompt reply, but could you please explain why those particular tenses?
ad1) I thought it would be either "had been /was renting" but heard that "had been" shouldn't be used like this without time reference. So f.e." I finally found the place where he had been waiting " isn't correct and should be "was waiting" unless I use "he had been waiting for some time".
ad2/3) I'm having trouble here with the rule that if I use Present Perfect with time reference, it's still true at present. So "that's what I've been doing." sounds ok as a just finished action, but "that's what I've been doing for two months" sounds to me like I'm still doing it. Same with "I've been /was away".
Could you clarify this for me please?
Thank you again.
J.

Surfer · Answer

Anonymous I thought it would be either "had been /was renting" but heard that "had been" shouldn't be used like this without time reference.

"sentences: 1. They had to clear out the flat their friend -was renting/had been renting/rented/had rented. (their friend had died, but the rent had been paid)"

In this one, I chose had been renting because it's given between parentheses that he had died, which means he didn't exist at the time they cleared out the apartment - that is, he was no longer renting that apartment, but he used to before.

Anonymous." I finally found the place where he had been waiting " isn't correct and should be "was waiting" unless I use "he had been waiting for some time".

I'm no grammarian, but that sounds awfully wrong. Both versions are possible, and it depends on the context

AnonymousI'm having trouble here with the rule that if I use Present Perfect with time reference, it's still true at present.

I have never heard that before. Some may associate certain interpretations or tendencies with tenses, but to describe those as rules, I think that's a bet excessive.

Anonymous.. .... .. . So "that's what I've been doing." sounds ok as a just finished action, but "that's what I've been doing for two months" sounds to me like I'm still doing it. Same with "I've been /was away".

I never heard that, and I don't think it's true.

I hope one of the teachers will comment on this.

Good luck.

Surfer · Answer

Surfer I think that's a ~~bet~~ bit excessive.

Sorry.

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