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He has been sleeping for five hours. vs They have been playing since four o'clock


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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
'it' confusing me in some sentences | At the end vs. In the end
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He has been sleeping for five hours. vs They have been playing since four o'clock #1 (permalink) Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:24 am   He has been sleeping for five hours. vs They have been playing since four o'clock
 

Very Happy A very sweet Good Morning to you Alan.
Sir your illustrations really works a lot for me and every time you teache me a new thing. Laughing Thanks a million!

Please remove my confusion what the main and slight difference is indicated between these two tenses. I came across with this confusion in an English grammar book:

1) Present Perfect Tense
to denote an action begnning at some time in the past and continuing up to the present moment(often with since-and for-phrases);as,
1. I have known him for a long time.
2.He has been ill since last week.

2) Present Perfect Continuous Tense
this tense is used for an action which began at some time in the past and is still continuing; as
1.He has been sleeping for five hours.
2.They have been playing since four o'clock.

I am confuse where to use which tense as tenses are different but there definition seems to be the same.

Waiting for your kind reply.
Thanks sir.
Sonia*
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 139

Please help. #2 (permalink) Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:54 am   Please help.
 

simple example

I have painted my house(this mean I finished painting)

I have been painting my house for two hours (I started two hours ago and I am still painting)
Mantser
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Joined: 06 Apr 2008
Posts: 5

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please help #3 (permalink) Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:58 am   please help
 

A very sweet Good Morning to you Alan.
Sir your illustrations really works a lot for me and every time you teache me a new thing. Thanks a million!

Please remove my confusion what the main and slight difference is indicated between these two tenses. I came across with this confusion in an English grammar book:

1) Present Perfect Tense
to denote an action begnning at some time in the past and continuing up to the present moment(often with since-and for-phrases);as,
1. I have known him for a long time.
2.He has been ill since last week.

2) Present Perfect Continuous Tense
this tense is used for an action which began at some time in the past and is still continuing; as
1.He has been sleeping for five hours.
2.They have been playing since four o'clock.

I am confuse where to use which tense as tenses are different but there definition seems to be the same.

Waiting for your kind reply.
Thanks sir.
Sonia*
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 139

please help #4 (permalink) Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:02 am   please help
 

Where are you from Sonia?
Bogdanno2
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please help #5 (permalink) Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:08 am   please help
 

I am from India. I want to know the illustration of above said question.
Sonia*
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 139

Please help. #6 (permalink) Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:09 am   Please help.
 

I know. I just wanted to help. and yes I know difference between these two tenses.

in first sentence you finished painting

but second one you are still painting
Mantser
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Joined: 06 Apr 2008
Posts: 5

please help #7 (permalink) Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:23 am   please help
 

Hi Sonia,

As the name suggests, the Present Perfect joins the past and present or, if you like, then and now. The Simple form covers from then up till now: I have lived here since 2001. The Continuous form covers from then till now and also suggests the future as in: I have been waiting at the bus stop since 10 this morning. This suggests that you are still waiting.

Alan
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Please help. #8 (permalink) Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:02 am   Please help.
 

ohh Please don't take it ill.
I mean to say just read out the language.Just read the definition of both the tenses.please define me:

She has been ill since last week. ( present perfect)
She has been sleeping for two hours.( present perfect continuous)

now please tell the difference between the two sentences. If you define clearly I wouldn't take it ill.
Sonia*
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 139

please help #9 (permalink) Sun Sep 06, 2009 10:05 am   please help
 

Respected sir.
If I am getting your point, the sentence" I have lived here since 2001" does not suggest the future.In other words this sentence
suggests that this action is not going to be continued in the future.

Please reply sir. Thanks a lot sir.
Sonia*
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 139

please help #10 (permalink) Sun Sep 06, 2009 11:21 am   please help
 

Respected sir.
If I am getting your point, the sentence" I have lived here since 2001" does not suggest the future.In other words this sentence
suggests that this action is not going to be continued in the future. Am I right Sir?

Please reply sir. Thanks a lot sir.
Sonia*
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 139

Alan sir you left me unanswered. #11 (permalink) Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:15 am   Alan sir you left me unanswered.
 

Respected Sir Alan,

you left my question unanswered.I typied it twice but all in vain.Did I annoy you at any point or I commit any mistake that you did not consider my question?

Thanks.
Sonia*
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 139

please help #12 (permalink) Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:23 am   please help
 

Hi Sonia,

Yes, you are right. the Present perfect Simple is from then till now. It is only the continuous form that suggests that the action is going to continue into the future.

Alan
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Alan sir you left me unanswered. #13 (permalink) Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:23 am   Alan sir you left me unanswered.
 

Please see my reply.

Alan
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Alan sir you left me unanswered. #14 (permalink) Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:30 am   Alan sir you left me unanswered.
 

Thanks a million Sir.

Really a teacher matters a lot for their students.

Thanks Sir.
sonia*
Sonia*
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 139

please help #15 (permalink) Mon Sep 07, 2009 20:15 pm   please help
 

Hi Sonia,

Please read this: What is a meaningful message title and why is it important?
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'it' confusing me in some sentences | At the end vs. In the end
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms He has been sleeping for five hours. vs They have been playing since four o'clock All times are GMT + 1 Hour
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