What's the difference?

Hi,

What the difference between these sentences? Well, both are ungrammatical. You need to say 'since a week ago' to reference a point in the past.

- I have been writing a letter since a week ago. This suggests the writing activity has gone on all week. It must be a very long letter.

OK, what the difference between:

- I have been writing a letter since a week ago.

- I have been writing a letter for a week.

Hi,

OK, what the difference between:

- I have been writing a letter since a week ago.

- I have been writing a letter for a week.

As I said, #1 is clumsy and #2 is more natural, more idiomatic in my opinion.

Clive

OK, I got other sentences.

What the difference between these four sentences:

- I have been playing basketball since two hours ago.

- I have been playing basketball for two hours.

- I have played basketball since two hours ago.

- I have played basketball for two hours.

What do they mean?

Please I need your help.

Thanks

Hi,

I advised you that since a week ago was clumsy in your earlier examples, and would commonly be said another way. Do you really want to try to make sentences like this that use the similar phrase since two hours ago? My comment would be the same in each case.

Best wishes again, Clive

CliveI advised you that since a week ago was clumsy

So when can I use "since" in Perfect and Perfect Progressive tenses?

Thanks

I have lived here since March.
I have been living here since March.
George has worked there since 2003.
Mary has been working there since 2005.
We have not seen them since Monday.
We have been hearing reports of it since last week.
No one has mentioned it since last month.
It has snowed five times since December.

I have not seen him since he bo

Look at this example:

- I have been writing a letter for two days.

Does that mean that the letter has finished?

Thanks

"Does that mean that the letter is finished?"

No. It seems to mean that it is a very, very long letter or that you are a very, very slow writer!

It's more realistic to say things like

I've been painting the house for two days.
I've been calculating my taxes for two days.
I've been working in the garden for two days.

These are thin

What about this:

- I've watched the TV for two hours.

Does that mean that he is still watching the TV?