0
   

Since, for and how long

 
 
Alex80
 
Reply Thu 6 Feb, 2020 12:13 am
Hi everyone! I found in a textbook that when (since,for& how long) come with an action verb, then we use the present perfect continuous. When they come with a stative verb, we use the present perfect simple. But I found in another page of the text these sentences:
1. 1.She hasn't eaten there since June.
2.He hasn't spoken to me since Christmas.
Q: Why are action verbs" eat & speak" used with since to refer to the present perfect simple? I mean Shouldn't we use the present perfect continuous? !!!
  • Topic Stats
  • Top Replies
  • Link to this Topic
Type: Question • Score: 0 • Views: 282 • Replies: 3
No top replies

 
InfraBlue
 
  1  
Reply Thu 6 Feb, 2020 01:53 pm
@Alex80,
"Eating there" and "speaking" in these instances are continuous actions, i.e. intermittent, often repeated, not continual ones, i.e. uniterrupted in time.
Alex80
 
  1  
Reply Fri 7 Feb, 2020 11:31 pm
@InfraBlue,
Default Re: Since, for and how long
Thank you so much for your explanation. So I can say:
1. She hasn't eaten/been eating there since July.
2.He hasn't spoken/ been speaking to me since Christmas.
It's about a permanent or temorary view. But a friend of mine told me that in sentence 2, 'hasn't spoken' means coincidental, but 'hasn't been speaking' means intentional. Is that correct?
InfraBlue
 
  1  
Reply Tue 11 Feb, 2020 05:24 pm
@Alex80,
"Hasn't spoken" can mean coincidence or intentionality. "Hasn't been speaking" is explicitly intentional.
0 Replies
 
 

 
  1. Forums
  2. » Since, for and how long
Copyright © 2024 MadLab, LLC :: Terms of Service :: Privacy Policy :: Page generated in 0.03 seconds on 05/06/2024 at 04:02:00