[Grammar] have been married/marrying?

[wayenng]

Hi there,

Situation: Dan and jenny are married. They got married exactly 20 years ago, so today is their 20th wedding anniversary.

Which one is correct below?
1. They have been married for 20 years.
2. They have been marrying for 20 years.

Pls kind advise.

 

[bhaisahab]

#1 is correct. #2 is not.

 

[wayenng]

Thanks very much!

Can you explain why 2 is not correct please?

 

[Rover_KE]

'have been marrying' is the present perfect continuous tense.

They got married only once — 20 years ago. They have not been continuously undergoing wedding ceremonies during that time.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I take #2 to mean 'They have been holding a wedding for 20 years'.

 

[wayenng]

'have been marrying' is the present perfect continuous tense.

They got married only once — 20 years ago. They have not been continuously undergoing wedding ceremonies during that time.

Thanks a lot.
Is there any example for "have been marrying"?

 

[wayenng]

I take #2 to mean 'They have been holding a wedding for 20 years'.

Thx!

 

[Skrej]

Thanks a lot.
Is there any example for "have been marrying"?

Our local pastor has been marrying people for over 30 years.

 

[Matthew Wai]

People have been marrying young in recent years.

 

[MikeNewYork]

At a point in time, one could have said "Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton have been marrying over and over."

 

[Matthew Wai]

Is it possible to say 'They have been marrying for 20 minutes, but the ceremony is not yet over.'?

 

[MikeNewYork]

No.

 

[wayenng]

I know that have been married is present perfect tense and have been marrying is present perfect continuous tense,
But sorry about I'm still confusing if any situation that appropriate for "have been marrying"?

 

[MikeNewYork]

See post 10.

 

[wayenng]

See post 10.

Thx.
"Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton have been marrying over and over." the wording "over and over" means at a point in time?

 

[MikeNewYork]

No, it means several times in a row.

 

[wayenng]

No, it means several times in a row.

Thx very much.
The most thing making me confuse that is form of present perfect continuous is have/has been +ing, but the answer(e.g have been married) is have/has been + pp ?

Should it "have been married" is present perfect continuous?

 

[Matthew Wai]

the answer(e.g have been married) is have/has been + pp ?

I think 'married' here is an adjective instead of a past/present participle.

Should it "have been married" is present perfect continuous?

It can't be the continuous tense without 'ing'.

 

[wayenng]

I think 'married' here is an adjective instead of a past/present participle.


It can't be the continuous tense without 'ing'.

100% agree with you that it can't be the continuous tense without 'ing'.!
that's why i just doubt the definition on "married" is.

btw, is it confirm "married" is adjective in this case please?

 

[Rover_KE]

By the way, is it confired that "married" is an adjective in this case, please?

Yes, it is.

Please do not use chatroom abbreviations like 'btw' and 'thx', wayenng. We insist on the use of standard English here.