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 #17 (permalink) Tue May 17, 2011 20:14 pm Present perfect simple vs. Present perfect continuous |
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Hi,
The significant word in your first sentence is 'just'. It is that word that indicates the recent completion of the action.
Alan
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| #18 (permalink) Tue May 17, 2011 20:39 pm Present perfect simple vs. Present perfect continuous |
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Hi,
Thanks for replying.
But, without the word ( just) does the sentence mean I am still watering them? Of course not. The consummation of the action is stressed with or without just.
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 Omarrizk
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| #19 (permalink) Tue May 17, 2011 21:06 pm Present perfect simple vs. Present perfect continuous |
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Hi,
I believe that 'just' indicates the recent completion.
Alan
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| #20 (permalink) Tue May 17, 2011 21:09 pm Present perfect simple vs. Present perfect continuous |
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Right.
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Omarrizk
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| #21 (permalink) Wed May 18, 2011 3:27 am Present perfect simple vs. Present perfect continuous |
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| Omarrizk wrote: |
| I have been painting the room for 3hours. (incomplete action) You are in the middle of task. |
Hi Omarrizk,
You can't say with absolute certainty that the painting is not finished yet. The most you can say without additional context is that the use of the present perfect continuous tends to suggest that the painting is not yet finished. However, as Beeesneees has already mentioned, there is also a possibility that the activity has just finished. Here is an example:
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SITUATION: Mary has been waiting to be picked up by John. John was supposed to pick Mary up at the airport at noon. It is now 3 p.m. and John has just now arrived at the airport.
Mary: John! Finally! Where have you been? I've been waiting for three hours!
John: Sorry, honey. I got here as soon as I could. There was a gigantic accident on I95. They had to close the highway for a couple of hours, and traffic was backed up for 25 miles. It took me forever to get here.
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As you can see in the context above, Mary has just now finished waiting for John.
The verb form (present perfect continuous) itself does not actually tell you anything about whether the activity is finished or not. Only the broader context can do that.
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| #22 (permalink) Wed May 18, 2011 20:44 pm Present perfect simple vs. Present perfect continuous |
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Thanks ESL Expert. You have just refreshed my mind.
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| start vs. begin | please correct these sentences |
