have a headache or having a headache

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s.clke

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Joined
Apr 13, 2011
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Japanese
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Japan
Current Location
UK
I have had a headache for several days.

I have been having a headache for several days.

Which is correct? if boths are correct, what is the difference?
 
I have had a headache for several days. The headache has been constant for several days.

I have been having headaches for several days. They have been coming and going.
Rover
 
Thank you for your answer. :-D

>I have been having headaches for several days.

I see.

>I have been having a headache for several days. ---- so this doesn't make sence to English people...
 
Thank you for your answer. :-D

>I have been having headaches for several days.

I see.

>I have been having a headache for several days. ---- so this doesn't make sence to English people...

Yeah, this is English! You have to give more attention when you want to transfer what you want to say!.
 
I was taught we shouldn't use the expression 'have a headache' in a continuous form, for instance [STRIKE]'I'm having a headache' [/STRIKE]
However, it seems to work with the present perfect continous. Could you please explain why it is so?
Thank you.
 
>I have been having a headache for several days. ---- so this doesn't make sence to English people...

It's sounds odd; if it's a single headache, then the present perfect simple sounds more natural to me. A headache's a state not an action, and we don't use progressive forms in exactly the same way. My head's been killing me/aching/hurting for several days would work IMO.
 
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