English Language Discussion Forums

**Tdol** · #1 18-Oct-2003, 14:13

**RonBee** · #2 18-Oct-2003, 14:51

Take out three and the second one will work.

:wink:

#3 18-Oct-2003, 19:00

It would indeed.

**Tdol** · #4 18-Oct-2003, 19:04

That was me posting as guest for some reason.

svicente · #5 27-Nov-2005, 16:34

That's one of my main doubts using verbs. Could you explain the right way to use this?
I can say: "I've been using to do.....", but when?

**Tdol** · #6 28-Nov-2005, 06:28

It would be very dificult to use your example. With action vebrs, the present perfect progressive is normally used to show that something began in the pas and is not complete. With the email examples, the speed of the action would generally indicate that it is finished. I culd say 'I've been sending him emails for several days and he hasn't replied'. Here, the action is incomplete because I wil send more emails until he replies. However, with 3 emails, you have basically sent them or not.

svicente · #7 29-Nov-2005, 03:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdol

It would be very dificult to use your example. With action vebrs, the present perfect progressive is normally used to show that something began in the pas and is not complete. With the email examples, the speed of the action would generally indicate that it is finished. I culd say 'I've been sending him emails for several days and he hasn't replied'. Here, the action is incomplete because I wil send more emails until he replies. However, with 3 emails, you have basically sent them or not.

Ok, very good explanation! Tks.
Now I have no more reason to make mistakes about it...