I have been waiting VERSUS I am waiting

[Hodor]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #54 "Chit Chat: At the bus stop", question 6

Linda: Yes, I ......... waiting for 30 minutes already.

(a) will be
(b) have been
(c) was
(d) am

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #54 "Chit Chat: At the bus stop", answer 6

Linda: Yes, I have been waiting for 30 minutes already.

Correct answer: (b) have been

Your answer was: incorrect
Linda: Yes, I am waiting for 30 minutes already.
_________________________

hi,

why not "I am waiting"?

Hodor

[Yankee]

Hi Hodor

You can use the present continuous (I am waiting) to simply say that you are in the process of waiting at the moment. There is no measurement of the time involved. We only know that the wait is in progress at the moment.

If you want to "measure" the duration of an activity up to now -- i.e. how long from a starting point in the past up to now, then you need the present perfect continuous (I have been waiting).

Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Tajar]

Hi Yankee,

I like a lot your explanations.

T

[Hapkido]

could you please explain it in more examples i didnot quite understand why its not ( Yes, I was waiting for 30 minutes already)

[Madasameee]

"I was waiting" says its past tense and its not happenin right now. In the Actual sentence, there s a word "already" used. means, yu are asking "still yu want me to wait?" ( say yu talkin over ph to your friend and he asks yu to wait and yu askin back).. so now yu have to use Present continuous which actually says " i have done for this many minutes , and am still doing this ( either wantedly or unwantedly)..

Back me with your comments..
thanks

[Hapkido]

Mr-Madasameee
thanks a lot for your dropping by.you have been very helpful.

[StJordi]

Hello,the position of alredy in the phrase is for any particular reason;could be I alredy have been?Many thanks in advance