Search results for 'tag:Present perfect tag:Perfect progressive' matching tags 'Present perfect' and 'Perfect progressive'

Simple past or past simple

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:55:32 GMT

Hi everybody,

Why do all the Grammar books use the expressions "simple present" and "simple past", although all the other tenses start with the tense-marker and add the aspect-marker then: present progressive, present perfect, present perfect progressive, past progressive, past perfect, past perfect progressive.
Couldn't it be more logical to then say "present simple" and "past simple"?

Yours, D.S. Elfers

Re: Names of different tenses

CalifJim — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:23:08 GMT

Here are some Present - Past pairs:

Simple present - Simple past [He takes. He took.]

Present progressive - Past progressive [He is taking. He was taking.]

Present perfect - Past perfect [He has taken. He had taken.]

Present perfect progressive - Past perfect progressive [He has been taking. He had been taking.]

(Simple) Future (of the Present) (will) - ( Simple) Future of the Past (would) [He will take. He would take.]

Future (of the Present) progressive - Future (of the Past) progressive [He will be taking. He would be taking.]

Future (of the Present) perfect - Future (of the Past) perfect [He will have taken. He would have taken.]

Future (of the Present) perfect progressive - Future (of the Past) perfect progressive [He will have been taking. He would have been taking.]

(Future of the Past -- (with would)-- is also called "Conditional".)

(Progressive is also called Continuous.)

Caution: Not all discussions of tense use the same names for the tenses.

Grammar doubts, please!

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:50:52 GMT

Hi, there!

Here are my doubts. Could you help me, please?

- He (write) a composition since lunch time. In this kind of sentence I could use e.g. the * Present Perfect Progressive:

- He has been writting a composition since lunch time. In this case since is a starting point and the verb tense shows an action that started in the past and continues up to the present moment, isn't it?

   But I think I could also use the Present Perfect Simple e.g.: "He has written a composition since lunch time." If so, I believe that there is not a difference between these two verb tenses, but only that the * first reinforces the continuity of the action up to the present moment, isn't it?

And in: "It (rain) all morning." I believe that I can say:

"It has rained all morning" (Present Perfect Simple here gives an idea that the action finished already because it's afternoon now, for example);

           or

"It has been raining all morning." (Present Perfect Progressive here if we want to emphasize that it started raining in the morning and it is still raining = We are still in the morning).

Thanks for the help (I hope my thought be right),

  Sakamura

"We have been discussing the matter several times this year."

Viceidol — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:39:33 GMT

Hello, everyone:

We have been discussing the matter several times this year.

We have discussed the matter several times this year.

I found that the first sentence is a bit unnatural using "several times" with present perfect progressive. I think the second one is more natural. What do you think? Please give me your opinion, thanks!!

grammar concern

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:08:16 GMT

PWe are printing an award for a teacher and it's not immediately obvious where the mistake is. He has provided guidance and service from August 2006 to August 2008, but we are printing the award before his term ends. Is it present perfect progressive (has/have been)?

1. He has provided guidance in physics since his arrival in August 2006.

2. He has provided guidance in physics since he arrived in August 2006.

3. He has provided guidance in physics since he arrived in August 2006.

4. He provided guidance in physics from August 2006 to August 2008.

5. By the time he leaves in August 2008, he will have provided guidance in physics since arriving/his arrival? in August 2006.

A recommendation?

Thanks

-A

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: 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: future perfect progressive and present perfect

Clive — Tue, 27 May 2008 03:46:09 GMT

Hi,

1. Why does it have to be 'prior to the main narrative time frame' here? Can it be 'past the main narrative time frame'?

The future perfect progressive verb will have been listening suggests action that will begin in the time frame prior to the main narrative time frame and that will be still be underway when another action begins.

Consider this timeline for tomorrow.

6pm. I will start cooking dinner.

7pm I will finish cooking dinner.

If you call me at 6.60 pm tomorrow, I will have been cooking dinner for half an hour.

I don't understand your question, Can it be 'past the main narrative time frame'? Can you please provide a timeline similar to the above, to show what you are asking about?

2. Is this use of present perfect OK as part of what looks like instructions or a definition?

An electrical instrument that is heated and used to sooth clothes after you have dried them.

Yes. But the passive is often used in such a context to avoid the use of 'you', ie to avoid any reference to an agent.

An electrical instrument that is heated and used to ~~sooth~~ iron clothes after they have been dried.

Best wishes, Clive

future perfect progressive and present perfect

Anonymous — Tue, 27 May 2008 01:32:33 GMT

Hi,

1. Why does it have to be 'prior to the main narrative time frame' here? Can it be 'past the main narrative time frame'?

2. Is this use of present perfect OK as part of what looks like instructions or a definition?

An electrical instrument that is heated and used to sooth clothes after you have dried them.