#1  
Old 13-Apr-2006, 22:17
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Default tense question

Could one say:
1-I have sat here for three hours.
instead of:
1a-I have been sitting here for three hours.
(action has just ended or still going on)

Could one say:
2-I have stood here for three hours.
instead of:
2a-I have been standing here for three hours.
(action has just ended or still going on)

Could one say:
3-I have ironed for three hours.
instead of:
3a-I have been ironing for three hours.
(action has just ended or still going on)

When used with a time phrase, the present perfect can is the case of some verbs be used instead of the present progressive (implying that the action is either still going on or has just ended.)
  #2  
Old 14-Apr-2006, 02:08
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Default Re: tense question

You can use the simple in all three cases. The progressive sounds more natural to me because it emphasises the duration, though.
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