[Grammar] have long been vs. continue

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LQZ

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Joined
Sep 22, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
1 I have long been learning English.
2 I continue learning English.

Dear teacher,

Could you tell me what difference, if any, between them is? Thanks.


LQZ
 
1 I have long been learning English.
This means you have been learning English for a long time. I would also say that is a rarely used construction (to have long been doing sth) - it's not wrong at all, but we would probably be more likely to say "I've been learning English for a long time".

2 I continue learning English.
This simply means that you are learning English now and that you started learning in the past, but it gives no hint as to when you started. It could have just been last month!

Dear teacher,

Could you tell me what the difference, if any, between them is? Thanks.


LQZ

See above.
 
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