I have longed/I've been longing?

[ucul]

What is the difference between:

1. I have longed for you
2. I've been longing for you

 

[bhaisahab]

There is no difference in meaning.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Would there be a difference if #1 was used in 'I have longed for you for years but now I have decided to forget you'?

 

[konungursvia]

Possibly, but overall, few people would interpret them differently.

 

[tedmc]

I think "I have longed for you" does not necessarily mean "I still long for you", but "I have been longing for you" does.

 

[konungursvia]

No, "I have been" doesn't necessarily mean you're doing so right now.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Then does the following not necessarily mean I am doing so right now?
'I have been living in China for decades.'

 

[MikeNewYork]

It does mean that, Matthew.

 

[bhaisahab]

Yes, it means that at the moment of saying it you are still living in China. However, you may be about to board a plane to emigrate to Ireland.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I would use the simple past instead of the present perfect continuous after arriving, but I am not a teacher.

 

[Matthew Wai]

If the present perfect continuous was used in a blog written immediately after returning and the returning was not mentioned in the blog, would readers think s/he was still in China?

 

[Barb_D]

There are probably some socio-linguistic aspects to how you'd answer.

A: Piscean, where have you been? I haven't seen you in... ages!
P: [you are really glad to be back and want to re-identify with living in Ireland again] I was living in China for 18 months.
P: [you haven't fully acclimated to being back home again, part of your brain is still in China] I've been living in China for 18 months.

I can't imagine that "I lived in China for 18 months" would be a likely choice.

Regarding the original question: Maybe (just maybe) the "I've been longing" version sounds like it was a more active things, more front of mind. His or her return was actively anticipated.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I can't imagine that "I lived in China for 18 months" would be a likely choice.

Would it be a likely choice if 'the past' was added after 'for'?

 

[bhaisahab]

No, Matthew.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I can't imagine that "I lived in China for 18 months" would be a likely choice.

I don't understand why the simple past can be used below but not above. Can anyone explain?

At the airport in my new home, I would say "I lived in London for ten years but today I moved to Russia".

 

[konungursvia]

I think you can use it (the sentence "I lived in China for 18 months") but not as an explanation of where you have been. Rather, it would serve to explain or justify your claims to know about China. Imagine this:

"The explosion in China must be a terrorist attack."
"No way, it's just an accident."
"How would you know?"
"I lived in China for 18 months. There is virtually no terrorism there these days. There are, however, lots of safety violations, and industrial accidents."