I've been "wanting" to visit Paris all my life.

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Viceidol

#542401 Wed, 16 Jul 08 03:21 PM

Hello, everyone. My grammar book says the following example is true:

I've been wanting to visit Paris all my life.

The book says "normally want cannot be used in progrssive tense, but it does in this case (present perfect continuous tense)" (p.s. The book is not written by a native speaker)

May I ask if what the book says is true? Please help me with this, thank you very much!!

Viceidol

Joined on Wed, Jul 11 2007

Taiwan

Regular Member (528)

Grammar, Tenses, Present perfect

Avangi

#542444 Wed, 16 Jul 08 04:23 PM

As far as I'm concerned, it's natural, correct, and very common.

Could you give an example of a use which your grammar book says is wrong?

Best wishes, - A.

Avangi

Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007

Senior Member (3,016)

". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

Grammar

Philip

#542456 Wed, 16 Jul 08 04:43 PM

In the present continuous (I'm wanting to see her), it is very awkward. In this case, "I've been wanting" is perfectly natural and quite common.

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (5,956)

At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

Present continuous

Viceidol

#542655 Thu, 17 Jul 08 02:29 AM

Avangi

Could you give an example of a use which your grammar book says is wrong?

Like:

I want to go to Europe. (O)

I am wanting to go to Europe. (I guess this one is problematic, what do you think?)

p.s. They aren't from my grammar book but made by myself.

Viceidol

Grammar

Yankee

#542679 Thu, 17 Jul 08 03:27 AM

Hi Viceidol

As already suggested by Avangi and Philip, when the verb want is used in a continuous form, it will usually be a perfect continuous (i.e. have been wanting/had been wanting) rather than the present continuous or the past continuous.

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

Senior Member (4,102)

Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

Verbs, Present continuous

Avangi

#542694 Thu, 17 Jul 08 03:52 AM

Hi Viceidol,

Thus far we have examples of three tenses: simple present, present progressive, and present perfect progressive. As Philip says, the present progressive seems awkward with "I am wanting." I don't know if it's considered incorrect.

The other two seem fine, correct, and natural. I want to go to Europe. (simple present) I've been wanting to go to Europe. (present perfect progressive)

I expect I might use "I am wanting" (I'm wanting) in certain cases similar to "I'm thinking." I'm thinking I might run out of gas. I'm thinking I shouldn't be spending so much time on my homework.

When I switch from a standard (stick) shift to an automatic transmission, I'm wanting to push in the clutch when I come to a full stop. I'm wanting to ask her for a divorce, but I keep thinking about the children. Somehow, these seem natural to me.

I am wanting has the same feel as I keep wanting.

Best wishes, - A.

Edit. Hi Yankee, I got interrupted while I was writing this, and didn't see your post.

Avangi

Simple present, Present progressive, Tenses, Present perfect, Perfect progressive