what tense is proper here

Question

I don’t know what tense should I use in the following case (I’ve written this sentence using the tense I regard as the most possible one.) During your absence, I was endeavouring to repair as thing as possible in the house. (Suppose, it was about a week.) The point is that it was a continous act. Everyday during this time, I continued repairing different things in the house. But I (had) just finished doing so by the time/when my acquaintance arrived home, and now I tell him what was my main continous act during these days. My problem is that this tense, as far as I know, is used with adding a definite point of time or a happening which takes place in a moment, and this sentence doesn’t contains such things.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

KaaJeeDuring your absence, I was endeavouring to repair as thing as possible in the house.

I read your description of what you are trying to say, so I think I understand what you want to say.
"endeavour" is a rather high-class word for the situation. I recommend "try" instead. Write this:

During your absence I've been trying to repair as many things as possible in the house.

This shows the trying throughout a period of time and that the trying continues up to now — when this person has returned and you can tell him what you have been doing while he was away.

KaaJeeMy problem is that this tense, as far as I know, is used with adding a definite point of time or a happening which takes place in a moment, and this sentence doesn’t contains such things.

The past tense (and the past continuous as well) does not require adding any information about a definite point in time. You may add that if you wish, but you don't have to. As it turns out, the present perfect continuous, which I recommended above, is better anyway. With the present perfect you may not add information about a definite point in time, but that's OK with this sentence because, as you say, you don't have that information in your sentence anyway.

CJ

KaaJee · Answer

Yes, I wanted to write "as many things as," and there were further mistakes, but I'm glad you've understood what I'd wanted to say. So thanks very much.

KaaJee · Answer

Sorry, I thought everything is clear but… Well, I think my example sentence was too complicated. I too had thought about using the tense you recommended but this example was wrong basically too because the act of repairing several things seemed to be meant to be continued and finished only due to the arrival of the mentioned person. But sorry, I don’t keep analysing it because it becomes even more complicated, so here is a much better example.
Now I finished my today work in the garden. I was cutting the grass./I had been cutting the grass.
Background information about this situation: The grass isn’t cut in the whole area of the garden. However, my today work is finished even then. It won’t continue. Should I say “had been cutting” even then?
Would you answer about this?

CalifJim · Answer

KaaJeeNow I finished my today work in the garden. I was cutting the grass./I had been cutting the grass.Background information about this situation: The grass isn’t cut in the whole area of the garden. However, my today work is finished even then. It won’t continue. Should I say “had been cutting” even then?Would you answer about this?

You are getting yourself in a tangle regarding what is finished and what is not finished, regarding what will continue and what will not continue. The English language is not as precise as you may think regarding these issues. There are no tenses for such complicated ideas as work that was being done continuously while is was being done, but then ultimately remains partially finished. You may be dividing these actions into too many small parts and attempting to connect these little details with a choice of tense. I don't think that will help. It will just make things more confusing.

First of all, you cannot use the past perfect at all unless you establish a reference time in the past to measure from. With a single statement about cutting grass, you can't do this. Therefore, you cannot use I had cut or I had been cutting.
Use the search box above to find posts on the past perfect if you want more information about this tense.
___________

Here's how to think about your example about cutting the grass.

1. Either you want to focus on the fact that the action was continuous while it was happening (A. continuous tense) or you want to focus on the fact that the activity of cutting the grass was an event that had a beginning and an end (B. simple tense).
2. Either you want to focus on the fact that the activity began and ended at some considerable time before you report your activities (and you are no longer cutting the grass) (A. past) or you want to focus on the fact that the activity just recently ended (even though you are no longer cutting the grass), so there may still be evidence (like bits of cut grass lying about) that can still be seen (B. present perfect).

Depending on what your focus is, you have four choices:

1A-2A. I was cutting the grass. (1)
1A-2B. I have been cutting the grass. (2)
1B-2A. I cut the grass. (3)
1B-2B. I have cut the grass. (4)

From what you said, I think you are focusing more on the continuous nature of cutting the grass, and I think the activity you describe ended quite recently. The person you are talking to can probably look at the area in question and see the evidence of your work. From this, I believe you will say what you mean if you use (2) I have been cutting the grass. You can add whatever you want to explain further details, but that's the core of your message.

I've been cutting the grass. I haven't cut all the grass. I have stopped for the day.

CJ

KaaJee · Answer

Well, then I couldn’t express myself perfectly. The fact that some grass remained uncut was meant an absolute side-issue, which I wouldn’t like to add when talking about the cutting of the grass. Suppose, I go home from the work, and then I mention that what was the work I did all the day. It’s unimportant that all grass is cut or not. I just added for the case of “I’ve cut the grass.” If I say the latter sentence, it sounds as if I wanted to say that I’ve cut all the grass, isn’t it? And “I’ve been cutting the grass,” may also be about the question of cut and uncut parts, finished and not finished things… well, I’m not sure it is understandable what I try to say now, but the point is that I just wanted to say the following thing with other words, i.e. with a more natural way:
The act I did all this day was (the) cutting of the grass.
And similarly: The act I mainly did during the previous days was (the) repairing of several things in the house.

CalifJim · Answer

KaaJeeThe act I did all this day was (the) cutting of the grass.

= I have been cutting the grass all day.

KaaJeeThe act I mainly did during the previous days was (the) repairing of several things in the house.

= During the last few days I have been mostly repairing things around the house.

CJ

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