Arobaz
Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2011
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- French
- Home Country
- France
- Current Location
- France
Hello everybody,
I have some issues with the present perfect continuous when it means : Actions recently finished, and without time phrase.
I don't know which should I use : present perfect simple, present perfect continuous and even the past continuous at times!
Here are some examples :
• First example
- 'What have you been doing today?'
- 'I've been reading a book'
or
- 'I've just been reading a book'
But... I don't see any difference (I'm French) and I wonder why they say : 'what have you been doing today' instead of 'what have you done' ...
• And in a video, I saw :
"I have been looking over your resume and I have to say I'm very impressed."
Context : That's for a job interview, the job applicant knock at the door and the head of personnel is waiting for her with the resume in her hand. And she say : 'Oh come in, have a seat. I have been looking over your resume and I have to say I'm very impressed'.
I'm wondering whether I can use the present perfect and what's the difference between :
->I have been looking over your resume and I have to say I'm very impressed.
-> I have (just) looked over your resume and I have to say I'm very impressed.
What is the difference? Does it imply an idea (PPC) of duration? (PPS) Of completion? :s
• Third example
-Who have you talked to?
-Who have you been talking to?
-Who were you talking to? <-- I believe this one is more common in American English, because I saw it in Malcolm
I'm totally lost with those ones... I can't imagine what the difference they have.
• Fourth example
-The ground is wet. It has been raining.
-The ground is wet. It has rained.
The former is more common than the latter, but I have already seen the latter... So... I odn't know :/
• And finally :
- Why have you been talking to him?
- Why have you talked to him?
- Why were you talking to him?
I'm sorry for this long post, but I think : the more examples there are, the better you can help me ^_^
I hope you'll can help me to see the difference
Thank you very much in advance,
Have good night / have a nice day.
Arobaz
I have some issues with the present perfect continuous when it means : Actions recently finished, and without time phrase.
I don't know which should I use : present perfect simple, present perfect continuous and even the past continuous at times!
Here are some examples :
• First example
- 'What have you been doing today?'
- 'I've been reading a book'
or
- 'I've just been reading a book'
But... I don't see any difference (I'm French) and I wonder why they say : 'what have you been doing today' instead of 'what have you done' ...
• And in a video, I saw :
"I have been looking over your resume and I have to say I'm very impressed."
Context : That's for a job interview, the job applicant knock at the door and the head of personnel is waiting for her with the resume in her hand. And she say : 'Oh come in, have a seat. I have been looking over your resume and I have to say I'm very impressed'.
I'm wondering whether I can use the present perfect and what's the difference between :
->I have been looking over your resume and I have to say I'm very impressed.
-> I have (just) looked over your resume and I have to say I'm very impressed.
What is the difference? Does it imply an idea (PPC) of duration? (PPS) Of completion? :s
• Third example
-Who have you talked to?
-Who have you been talking to?
-Who were you talking to? <-- I believe this one is more common in American English, because I saw it in Malcolm
I'm totally lost with those ones... I can't imagine what the difference they have.
• Fourth example
-The ground is wet. It has been raining.
-The ground is wet. It has rained.
The former is more common than the latter, but I have already seen the latter... So... I odn't know :/
• And finally :
- Why have you been talking to him?
- Why have you talked to him?
- Why were you talking to him?
I'm sorry for this long post, but I think : the more examples there are, the better you can help me ^_^
I hope you'll can help me to see the difference
Thank you very much in advance,
Have good night / have a nice day.
Arobaz