ESL General English Grammar Questions

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

Avangi — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:52:43 GMT

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.

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

Yankee — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:27:13 GMT

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.

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

Viceidol — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:29:27 GMT

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.

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

Philip — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:43:24 GMT

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.

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

Avangi — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:23:53 GMT

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.

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

Viceidol — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:21:02 GMT

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!!