eslHQ Home
User Name Password
Lost Password? | Join eslHQ.com, it's FREE!
View today's posts
Search Extras Help   

Reply
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Unread Feb 13th, 2021, 04:10 am
eslHQ Enthusiast
 
Join Date: May 25th, 2015
Posts: 50
Alex80 is on a distinguished road
Default Present per./ present per. cont.

Hi guys!
I was wondering which sentence is more natural. And why?!!!
1.We are films producers. We have been making films since we graduated from college.
2.We are films producers. We have made films since we graduated from college.
* I found one possible answer in a textbook. The answer is present perfect simple. I just don't get it. Why shouldn't be present perfect continuous? The verb 'make' is an action verb and 'since' focuses on the time.

Last edited by susan53 : Feb 13th, 2021 at 06:09 am.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Unread Feb 13th, 2021, 06:57 am
Sue
 
Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006
Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
susan53 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Present per./ present per. cont.

The problem lies in the first sentence which should be We are film producers - it's a compound noun with the first noun acting adjectivally, so it can't be plural.

First of all :
  • One use of the present perfect (the one relevant to your example) is to describe events occurring in past to present time.
  • Continuous aspect expresses events which are or were ongoing.

When the event(s) are past and completed (so not on-going), the simple form must be used : We've made 16 films since we graduated from college (= 16 individual completed past events in past to present time - since we graduated from college.)

However, if there is no indication that the action(s) described is/are individual events, then the two concepts (past/present time and ongoing events) can be combined to produce the present perfect continuous - which in this case can be used interchangeably with the simple form. So here :
We've made films since we graduated from college.
= We've been making films since we graduated from college.

The two, in this context, have exactly the same meaning. The only difference is that the second emphasises the on-going concept more than the first.

Here's another example:
I've had a headache three times this week (three separate, individual headaches in past to present time - this week)

But either :
I've had a lot of headaches recently
or:
I've been having a lot of headaches recently
(The headaches are presented as an ongoing problem in past to present time)

Possibly the textbook used only the first structure - the present perfect simple - because the present perfect continuous had not yet been introduced. But the simple form is certainly not wrong.
__________________
An ELT Notebook
The DELTA Course
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Unread Feb 13th, 2021, 10:35 pm
eslHQ Enthusiast
 
Join Date: May 25th, 2015
Posts: 50
Alex80 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Present per./ present per. cont.

If you were to talk about this situation, which sentence would you say
We have made or we have been making?

Last edited by susan53 : Feb 14th, 2021 at 04:49 am.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Unread Feb 14th, 2021, 04:51 am
Sue
 
Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006
Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
susan53 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Present per./ present per. cont.

Either - as I said, in this situation they're equivalent.
__________________
An ELT Notebook
The DELTA Course
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Unread Feb 14th, 2021, 07:50 am
eslHQ Enthusiast
 
Join Date: May 25th, 2015
Posts: 50
Alex80 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Present per./ present per. cont.

Thanks a lot, my friend.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads Replies
Times, and Present Cont 0
Present Cont. Level 1 0
Present cont. 1
Present Cont. or Simple Present 1
crazy sentences: present cont 0

Find the Best TEFL, TESL, TESOL & CELTA Certification Courses - User Submitted Ratings & Reviews for Online, Distance & Abroad TEFL Courses. Over 3,500 reviews of 100+ TEFL schools!

Teach English in Thailand - Onsite and Combined TEFL certification courses in Phuket, Thailand.


Free ESL Flashcards


Similar Threads Replies
Times, and Present Cont 0
Present Cont. Level 1 0
Present cont. 1
Present Cont. or Simple Present 1
crazy sentences: present cont 0


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:33 am.

All materials from this website are for classroom-use only. Digital redistribution of materials, in part or in whole, is strictly forbidden!

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2