simple vs continuous

1 2

Share on Facebook

Grodada

#334231 Wed, 28 Feb 07 06:39 PM

One question about the present perfect : where could I find the list of verbs which can be either used in the simple form or in the continuous form in the same contexts?
For example, He has been working here for 10 years and he has worked here for 10 years are both correct while He has been washing his car for two hours could not be replaced by he has washed his car for two hours (the examples were taken from grammar books).
The problem for me has always been to know which verbs could be used both ways (in the contexts with a complement introduced by for or since).

Thanks

Grodada

Joined on Fri, Nov 24 2006

New Member (18)

Grammar, List of verbs, Present perfect, Verbs

CalifJim

#334277 Wed, 28 Feb 07 07:59 PM

The list? I didn't know there was such a list!

I imagine you are talking about stative verbs that allow the progressive ('continuous') form.

has worked - has been working
has lived - has been living
has waited - has been waiting
has rested - has been resting
has kept - has been keeping

You may have to construct your own list as you encounter examples in your readings.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,570)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Stative verbs, Verbs

Grodada

#334295 Wed, 28 Feb 07 09:03 PM

In fact, I was not referring to the stative/dynamic opposition.
Work is not stative whereas live is, and, as you well know, we can find :

I've worked here for years and I've been working here for years.
I've lived here for years and I've been living here for years.

So the possibility to use one of the two tenses is not determined by the propriety of the verb (static or dynamic).
But it is not always possible to use both tenses. For example, I know I can say He's been playing tennis since he was a child but I doubt that He has played tennis since he was a child would be correct.

There might be no such list and I may have to rely on experience only.

Thanks anyway

Grodada

Tenses, Verbs

Case Assigner

#334310 Wed, 28 Feb 07 10:32 PM

That´s interesting, I am wondering whether this isn´t a semantic difference you are talking of. "He has been playing..." means that he still plays tennis whereas "He has played .... " means that he has played tennis nearly his whole life long, at least as long as he lived, because he´s dead now.

Am I right? I would like to know the solution to this question as well...

Case Assigner

Joined on Sun, Feb 25 2007

Germany

Junior Member (99)

You found mistakes in my post? Please notify me Smile [:)]

Thx a lot.

Grodada

#334321 Wed, 28 Feb 07 11:04 PM

In fact, if the person is dead you normally use the preterit (he played tennis all his life).

Grodada

Grammar Geek

#334323 Wed, 28 Feb 07 11:05 PM

He has played tennis since he was a child sounds fine to me. Jim, do you see a problem with this?

If you want to say that he no longer plays (either because he no longer wants to, or because he is dead and unable to) then He played tennis from the time he was a child. (No "has played.")

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,294)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Case Assigner

#334326 Wed, 28 Feb 07 11:20 PM

Good to know, thank you very much

Case Assigner

Goodman

#334338 Wed, 28 Feb 07 11:53 PM

Grammar Geek wrote:

He has played tennis since he was a child sounds fine to me. Jim, do you see a problem with this?

If you want to say that he no longer plays (either because he no longer wants to, or because he is dead and unable to) then He played tennis from the time he was a child. (No "has played.")

I find nothing wrong with using present perfect tense here. I believe present perfect continous emphasizes the on-going action. If I said "I have been preparing for the presentation for several weeks", I am putting the stress on the on-going action of prepartion, whereas if I just use simple present perfect form, like "I've prepared for weeks for this presentation", I am only making a factual statement. That's just my opinion.

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,090)

The name says it all!

Grammar, Present perfect, Simple present, Tenses

Grodada

#334345 Thu, 01 Mar 07 12:17 AM

Well actually I made a mistake when opposing he has played tennis since he was a child and he has been playing tennis since he was a child.
In that case both tenses are correct. But in the following example, unless I am mistaken, you cannot use the simple present perfect :
He's been washing dishes for two hours (possible)
He's washed dishes for two hours (impossible, according to what I could read in somme grammar books).

Thanks for your answers

Grodada

Grammar, Present perfect, Simple present, Tenses

1 2