ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: tense

Newguest — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:36:53 GMT

Skrej
You can use a specific time (yesterday, Monday, etc.) with the present perfect progressive as long as you've got 'since' or 'for' right before that specific time.

"She's been calling me since yesterday/Monday" or "She's been calling me for 48 hours straight" are both okay.

If you say "She called me yesterday", then that would be simple past. You can't say "She has been calling me yesterday/Monday".

Unless your name happens to be Yesterday or Monday.

I get it. Thanks

Re: tense

Skrej — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:42:27 GMT

You can use a specific time (yesterday, Monday, etc.) with the present perfect progressive as long as you've got 'since' or 'for' right before that specific time.

"She's been calling me since yesterday/Monday" or "She's been calling me for 48 hours straight" are both okay.

If you say "She called me yesterday", then that would be simple past. You can't say "She has been calling me yesterday/Monday".

Unless your name happens to be Yesterday or Monday.

Re: tense

Newguest — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:57:21 GMT

Skrej

As for substituting 'yesterday' for 'Monday' again, yes, both work with no difference (aside from the amount of time that's passed).

I thought that using "yesterday" with the present perfect progressive is not quite correct. I always associate it with the past simple.

Re: tense

Newguest — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:24:44 GMT

Thank you very much!!!

Re: tense

Yankee — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:23:54 GMT

Hi Newguest

Newguest
1. I've spent half a day on in a tree picking up cherries.

2. I spent half a day on in a tree picking up cherries.

I'd suggest changing your sentences as I did in the quote.
I'd say the main differences between the two sentences are these:
- It is more likely (but not sure) that the "half a day" referred to in sentence 1 is today (i.e. the day is not yet finished).
- In sentence 1, "picking cherries" could possibly continue (i.e. when today is finally over, three quarters of the day might have been spent picking cherries, for example)

Newguest
She's been telling me since Monday to come and visit her.

If I changed Monday into "yesterday" would it be alright?

Yes, that would be fine.

Re: tense

Skrej — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:11:31 GMT

Hi Newguest,

There is a slight difference in the time line between the first 2 sentences.

#1 means that you have spent 1/2 of this day (today) up the tree.

#2 means that you spent 1/2 of some day in the past (yesterday or further back) up the tree.

However, both sentences should use the preposition 'up' or 'in' instead of 'on'. 'Up' or 'in' a tree means you've climbed part way up it. 'On' a tree gives the impression that somehow you're sitting on top of the tree, like it's a chair or table.

For the second pair of sentences, both are equally correct. There's no real practical difference between her calling you and telling you (aside that calling implies she used a telephone).

As for substituting 'yesterday' for 'Monday' again, yes, both work with no difference (aside from the amount of time that's passed).

tense

Newguest — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:51:37 GMT

Hello

Will there be at least a slight difference in meaning between these two:

1.I've spent half a day on a tree picking up cherries.

2. I spent half a day on a tree picking up cherries.

Also, can I say:

She's been calling me since Monday to come and visit her

She's been telling me since Monday to come and visit her.

If I changed Monday into "yesterday" would it be alright?

Thank you