As we can see in the image, the focus is on the action<\/strong>.\u00a0 The action does NOT continue. The action has finished.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n If you see people saying “I’ve been waiting for ages”, the action continues!<\/p>\n Wait wut? I thought you said the action was finished? Well, it is, UNLESS you add for\/since.<\/strong><\/p>\n How can we express that an action continues in the present?<\/p>\n I am studying this crap<\/p><\/blockquote>\n How can we express that an action continues in the present after a specific period of time?<\/p>\n I am studying this crap for 20 mins<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Incorrect. This means the studying is planned to continue for 20 mins from now.<\/p>\n I was studying\u00a0this crap for 20 mins.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Incorrect- this expresses that the action was continuing in the past for 20 minutes but is finished now.<\/p>\n I studied this crap for 20 mins.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Incorrect- this action occurred for 20 mins in the past.<\/p>\n I have studied this crap for 20 mins.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Incorrect- same as above + consequence on the present. The action has ended.<\/strong><\/p>\n I have been studying this crap for 20 mins.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Correct! The action took 20 minutes and\u00a0continues in the present.<\/strong><\/p>\n For + duration<\/strong><\/p>\n Since + time\/date\/event in the past<\/strong><\/p>\n = action with consequence continues in the present<\/strong><\/p>\n I have been + ing +<\/p>\n … since 3pm<\/p>\n … since you arrived<\/p>\n … since Jan 20th, 2010<\/p>\n … for five years<\/p>\n … for a long time<\/p>\n … for several hours<\/p>\n … for ages<\/p>\n … forever……<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Sometimes it just isn’t clear that the action has stopped, or will continue, \u00a0and the speaker may or may not be doing the action right now.<\/p>\n I’ve been watching a series.<\/p>\n I’ve been reading a book.<\/p>\n I’ve been working on a project.<\/p>\n I’ve been modding my stick.<\/p>\n In these kinds of situations, if the speaker doesn’t precise with “For\/Since” we really have to guess if the action has finished or not.<\/p>\n In some situations, the focus on the action<\/strong> is more appropriate than the result<\/strong>:<\/p>\n Have you been catching any fish? = It’s grammatically correct but not usually appropriate.<\/p>\n Have you caught any fish? = We want to know the result – the amount of fish is more appropriate.<\/p>\n Usually<\/em>:<\/p>\n how long + ppc<\/p>\n How much\/ many + pp<\/p>\n Usual: How much money have you spent?<\/p>\n Unusual: How much money have you been spending?<\/p>\n The negative<\/p>\n X: I have eaten since breakfast<\/p>\n Not a good sentence. The action has stopped. It started at breakfast. Usually we use continuous + since or for unless the verb is an exception.<\/p>\n O: I have eaten<\/p>\n O: I haven’t eaten since breakfast<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Use ppc +\u00a0for<\/strong> or\u00a0since<\/strong> to show the action is continuing or will continue in the future. Context will explain if it is happening right now or not.<\/p>\n Use pp + for to show a period up to you.<\/p>\n Use pp in the negative + since to show a period from a date up to now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.orochinagi.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Erza-Knightwalker.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n+ For \/ Since<\/h1>\n
Rule<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nContext is king<\/h1>\n
Action vs Result… appropriate?<\/h1>\n
\n\u00a0Summary<\/h1>\n
Now go to Part 3<\/a><\/h1>\n