http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3715.30106)http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectContinuous-Question/bkwnz/post.htm#135334Wed, 20 May 2009 07:53:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135334CalifJim0http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectContinuous-Question/bkwnz/post.htm#135334http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135334.xmlWelcome to English Forums! I don't believe it is either the verb or the tense that expresses any action that has recently stopped. Your examples could have been continued in different ways to show the reverse situation: Action still continuing: I've been painting the room all day, and I intend to finish in the next two hours. Action recently stopped: It's been raining for two hours, but it's stopping just now. There is also a way in which "have been going to the tanner's" is continuous. Simply paraphrase it as "have been in the habit of going to the tanner's". I suppose your student thinks it means something like "have been on the way to the tanner's". In that case, you'll need to explain that one meaning of "go"...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectContinuous-Question/bkwnz/post.htm#135256Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:53:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135256pieanne1http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectContinuous-Question/bkwnz/post.htm#135256http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135256.xmlHere's how I understand it: PPC always has something to do with the present. "You've been painting": There are paint smears /spots on your clothes/ "You've been smoking": I can smell it/ "The driver has been drinking": I can smell the alcohol on his/her breath. "I've been writing letters all morning": It's still morning, and you can see I'm still writing letters.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectContinuous-Question/bkwnz/post.htm#135206Wed, 20 May 2009 07:53:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135206Kangiten2http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectContinuous-Question/bkwnz/post.htm#135206http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135206.xmlIsabellebgreen wrote: One of my students really doesn't get why "I've been going to the tanners" (example) means separate instances and not one continuous action. For example, it wouldn't make sense to say, "I've been going to the tanners for 2 hours" or "I've been going to the tanners all day." I'm not quite sure how to explain why?? Does anybody have an explanation? Thanks! Ok, here is how I would explain it. Tell your student that the use of PPC is justified by the keyword "lately", which specifies a period of time that started in the past but is either still going on or has recently ended (typical use of Present Perfect). PPC is also used sometimes to indicate the speaker's annoyance with the situation...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectContinuous-Question/bkwnz/post.htm#135196Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:53:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135196yunus3http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectContinuous-Question/bkwnz/post.htm#135196http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135196.xmlaction have started at the past and now it is still continue. for example i started to learn english two years ago. and now i'm still learning english then i have been learning english for two years. then action doesn't stop, action is continue.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectContinuous-Question/bkwnz/post.htmMon, 20 Jul 2009 07:53:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:135189Isabellebgreen4http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectContinuous-Question/bkwnz/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-135189.xmlDoes anybody know why the present perfect continuous used with some verbs means an action that has recently stopped or still happening and with other verbs means a repeated action in the past at separate times? Example: Action recently stoppped: I have been painting the room all day, but I'm taking a break now. Action still continuing: It's been raining for two hours. (It's still raining) Repeated action in past: I've been going to the tanners lately. I went 4 times this week. (separate instances) One of my students really doesn't get why "I've been going to the tanners" (example) means separate instances and not one continuous action. For example, it wouldn't make sense to say, "I've been going to the tanners for 2...