Anonymous  +  166080 Sun, 04 Dec 05 05:29 PM Someone has been watching TV for three hours and he is still watching it. I understand that I should say,   He has been watching TV for three hours   But is it correct to describe this situation by saying,   He has watched TV for three hours   Thanks in advance. Anonymous Present Perfect

	Peťulinka  +  166111 Sun, 04 Dec 05 07:17 PM Hi! (A Practical English Grammar - Thomson, Marinet): An action which began in the past and is still continuing or has only just finished can, with certain verbs, be expressed by either the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous. Verbs which can be used in this way include: expect, hope, learn, lie, live, look, rain, sleep, sit, snow, stand, stay, study, teach, wait, want, work. But I think that when we use watch as a voluntary action (not as a verb of the sense) we can use both tenses for a still continuing action but I'm not sure because I'm not a native speaker. To use the Present Perfect Continuous is better... Peťulinka Joined on Thu, Nov 10 2005 Czech Republic New Member 10 Grammar, Verbs, Tenses, Present Perfect, English Grammar

	CalifJim  +  166278 Mon, 05 Dec 05 03:15 AM But is it correct to describe this situation by saying, <>He has watched TV for three hours It is acceptable, but not as precise as the alternative "has been watching". "has watched for three hours" can mean "on another occasion" or "on other occasions", because "has watched TV" can mean "has had a TV-watching experience" (which "has been watching" cannot): He has watched TV for three hours three times this week -- on Monday, on Wednesday, and on Thursday. "has watched" treats the situation as an event; "has been watching" treats it as an activity. By using "has been watching" you make it clear that the activity of watching continued up to the time you uttered the statement. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,395 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Present Perfect

	rishonly  +  166287 Mon, 05 Dec 05 03:44 AM Nice explanation, CaliJim, as usual. rishonly Joined on Sat, Mar 5 2005 KUMBAKONAM,INDIA Contributing Member 1,782 Regards, Krishna