finished / unfinished progressive actions
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I am new here, so forgive me if I do something improper. I've been wondering what makes it clear if the action was ongoing and completed or ongoing and uncompleted.
Short dialogue:
X: Oh, you look wet.
Y: I've been washing my car.
Is the action of washing the car finished and progressive for some time in the past ( the person was cleaning the car for some time and finished it) or progressive but unfinished ( the person was cleaning the car for some time, but for some reason didn't complete the job )?
Or maybe we can't clearly spot the difference?
Thanks in advance!
grammar
asked Apr 11 at 17:30
Troll Osiedlowy
112
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I am new here, so forgive me if I do something improper. I've been wondering what makes it clear if the action was ongoing and completed or ongoing and uncompleted.
Short dialogue:
X: Oh, you look wet.
Y: I've been washing my car.
Is the action of washing the car finished and progressive for some time in the past ( the person was cleaning the car for some time and finished it) or progressive but unfinished ( the person was cleaning the car for some time, but for some reason didn't complete the job )?
Or maybe we can't clearly spot the difference?
Thanks in advance!
grammar
asked Apr 11 at 17:30
Troll Osiedlowy
112
Welcome to ELU! You might find some answers for this kind of thing among the existing questions on English Language Learners. It’s a valid question, though. In the dialogue example, I would say the washing is finished: "I have been..." vs "I am...". However, you "have been wondering", but I dare say you are still wondering, so the wondering is not yet finished!
– Pam
Apr 11 at 17:39
Thanks for the reply! Let's put aside the fact that the action could be still going on. Let's place the progressive "washing the car" action in the past, which is mentioned to explain the current "wet" state of the person. How to figure out whether the action was completed or just left uncompleted?
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 11 at 18:33
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I am new here, so forgive me if I do something improper. I've been wondering what makes it clear if the action was ongoing and completed or ongoing and uncompleted.
Short dialogue:
X: Oh, you look wet.
Y: I've been washing my car.
Is the action of washing the car finished and progressive for some time in the past ( the person was cleaning the car for some time and finished it) or progressive but unfinished ( the person was cleaning the car for some time, but for some reason didn't complete the job )?
Or maybe we can't clearly spot the difference?
Thanks in advance!
grammar
asked Apr 11 at 17:30
Troll Osiedlowy
112
I am new here, so forgive me if I do something improper. I've been wondering what makes it clear if the action was ongoing and completed or ongoing and uncompleted.
Short dialogue:
X: Oh, you look wet.
Y: I've been washing my car.
Is the action of washing the car finished and progressive for some time in the past ( the person was cleaning the car for some time and finished it) or progressive but unfinished ( the person was cleaning the car for some time, but for some reason didn't complete the job )?
Or maybe we can't clearly spot the difference?
Thanks in advance!
grammar
grammar
asked Apr 11 at 17:30
Troll Osiedlowy
112
asked Apr 11 at 17:30
Troll Osiedlowy
112
asked Apr 11 at 17:30
Troll Osiedlowy
112
asked Apr 11 at 17:30
Troll Osiedlowy
112
asked Apr 11 at 17:30
Troll Osiedlowy
112
112
Welcome to ELU! You might find some answers for this kind of thing among the existing questions on English Language Learners. It’s a valid question, though. In the dialogue example, I would say the washing is finished: "I have been..." vs "I am...". However, you "have been wondering", but I dare say you are still wondering, so the wondering is not yet finished!
– Pam
Apr 11 at 17:39
Thanks for the reply! Let's put aside the fact that the action could be still going on. Let's place the progressive "washing the car" action in the past, which is mentioned to explain the current "wet" state of the person. How to figure out whether the action was completed or just left uncompleted?
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 11 at 18:33
add a comment |
Welcome to ELU! You might find some answers for this kind of thing among the existing questions on English Language Learners. It’s a valid question, though. In the dialogue example, I would say the washing is finished: "I have been..." vs "I am...". However, you "have been wondering", but I dare say you are still wondering, so the wondering is not yet finished!
– Pam
Apr 11 at 17:39
Thanks for the reply! Let's put aside the fact that the action could be still going on. Let's place the progressive "washing the car" action in the past, which is mentioned to explain the current "wet" state of the person. How to figure out whether the action was completed or just left uncompleted?
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 11 at 18:33
Welcome to ELU! You might find some answers for this kind of thing among the existing questions on English Language Learners. It’s a valid question, though. In the dialogue example, I would say the washing is finished: "I have been..." vs "I am...". However, you "have been wondering", but I dare say you are still wondering, so the wondering is not yet finished!
– Pam
Apr 11 at 17:39
Welcome to ELU! You might find some answers for this kind of thing among the existing questions on English Language Learners. It’s a valid question, though. In the dialogue example, I would say the washing is finished: "I have been..." vs "I am...". However, you "have been wondering", but I dare say you are still wondering, so the wondering is not yet finished!
– Pam
Apr 11 at 17:39
Thanks for the reply! Let's put aside the fact that the action could be still going on. Let's place the progressive "washing the car" action in the past, which is mentioned to explain the current "wet" state of the person. How to figure out whether the action was completed or just left uncompleted?
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 11 at 18:33
Thanks for the reply! Let's put aside the fact that the action could be still going on. Let's place the progressive "washing the car" action in the past, which is mentioned to explain the current "wet" state of the person. How to figure out whether the action was completed or just left uncompleted?
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 11 at 18:33
add a comment |
1 Answer
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"I have been washing my car"
This sentence uses the tense known as present perfect progressive. It is used for actions that started in the past and may or may not be finished. Some other context is needed (or assumed) to ascertain whether the action has finished or not.
In the case of "I have been washing my car", I would assume the car washing is complete. If it was ongoing, present progressive "I am washing my car" would be used (and there would be evidence of car washing).
In the case of "I have been wondering...", I would assume that the wondering continues. If it was complete, the simple past tense "I wondered" would be used. Wondering is internal, there might be no outward evidence, so best to assume a steady state.
Both these examples are personal interpretation, though. It’s easier and clearer to use other tenses instead: "I just washed the car" (simple past); "I was washing the car" (past progressive); "I am washing the car" (present progressive).
answered Apr 11 at 20:18
Pam
3,2971425
Taking into consideration another situation: [* X: I should mend a dripping tap in the kitchen, but I don't know how. Y: I can try to do it. I've been reading a book about hydraulics. *] Does "I've been reading a book" imply that the speaker was riffling through the pages and gathered the useful information, but didn't read the entire book. If "I've read a book" were used instead, would it change the meaning into " the speaker read the entire book (from the beginning to the end), so he/she knows what to do with the dripping tap"? Is my thinking correct? Thanks once again!
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 12 at 0:01
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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"I have been washing my car"
This sentence uses the tense known as present perfect progressive. It is used for actions that started in the past and may or may not be finished. Some other context is needed (or assumed) to ascertain whether the action has finished or not.
In the case of "I have been washing my car", I would assume the car washing is complete. If it was ongoing, present progressive "I am washing my car" would be used (and there would be evidence of car washing).
In the case of "I have been wondering...", I would assume that the wondering continues. If it was complete, the simple past tense "I wondered" would be used. Wondering is internal, there might be no outward evidence, so best to assume a steady state.
Both these examples are personal interpretation, though. It’s easier and clearer to use other tenses instead: "I just washed the car" (simple past); "I was washing the car" (past progressive); "I am washing the car" (present progressive).
answered Apr 11 at 20:18
Pam
3,2971425
Taking into consideration another situation: [* X: I should mend a dripping tap in the kitchen, but I don't know how. Y: I can try to do it. I've been reading a book about hydraulics. *] Does "I've been reading a book" imply that the speaker was riffling through the pages and gathered the useful information, but didn't read the entire book. If "I've read a book" were used instead, would it change the meaning into " the speaker read the entire book (from the beginning to the end), so he/she knows what to do with the dripping tap"? Is my thinking correct? Thanks once again!
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 12 at 0:01
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
"I have been washing my car"
This sentence uses the tense known as present perfect progressive. It is used for actions that started in the past and may or may not be finished. Some other context is needed (or assumed) to ascertain whether the action has finished or not.
In the case of "I have been washing my car", I would assume the car washing is complete. If it was ongoing, present progressive "I am washing my car" would be used (and there would be evidence of car washing).
In the case of "I have been wondering...", I would assume that the wondering continues. If it was complete, the simple past tense "I wondered" would be used. Wondering is internal, there might be no outward evidence, so best to assume a steady state.
Both these examples are personal interpretation, though. It’s easier and clearer to use other tenses instead: "I just washed the car" (simple past); "I was washing the car" (past progressive); "I am washing the car" (present progressive).
answered Apr 11 at 20:18
Pam
3,2971425
Taking into consideration another situation: [* X: I should mend a dripping tap in the kitchen, but I don't know how. Y: I can try to do it. I've been reading a book about hydraulics. *] Does "I've been reading a book" imply that the speaker was riffling through the pages and gathered the useful information, but didn't read the entire book. If "I've read a book" were used instead, would it change the meaning into " the speaker read the entire book (from the beginning to the end), so he/she knows what to do with the dripping tap"? Is my thinking correct? Thanks once again!
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 12 at 0:01
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
"I have been washing my car"
This sentence uses the tense known as present perfect progressive. It is used for actions that started in the past and may or may not be finished. Some other context is needed (or assumed) to ascertain whether the action has finished or not.
In the case of "I have been washing my car", I would assume the car washing is complete. If it was ongoing, present progressive "I am washing my car" would be used (and there would be evidence of car washing).
In the case of "I have been wondering...", I would assume that the wondering continues. If it was complete, the simple past tense "I wondered" would be used. Wondering is internal, there might be no outward evidence, so best to assume a steady state.
Both these examples are personal interpretation, though. It’s easier and clearer to use other tenses instead: "I just washed the car" (simple past); "I was washing the car" (past progressive); "I am washing the car" (present progressive).
answered Apr 11 at 20:18
Pam
3,2971425
"I have been washing my car"
This sentence uses the tense known as present perfect progressive. It is used for actions that started in the past and may or may not be finished. Some other context is needed (or assumed) to ascertain whether the action has finished or not.
In the case of "I have been washing my car", I would assume the car washing is complete. If it was ongoing, present progressive "I am washing my car" would be used (and there would be evidence of car washing).
In the case of "I have been wondering...", I would assume that the wondering continues. If it was complete, the simple past tense "I wondered" would be used. Wondering is internal, there might be no outward evidence, so best to assume a steady state.
Both these examples are personal interpretation, though. It’s easier and clearer to use other tenses instead: "I just washed the car" (simple past); "I was washing the car" (past progressive); "I am washing the car" (present progressive).
answered Apr 11 at 20:18
Pam
3,2971425
answered Apr 11 at 20:18
Pam
3,2971425
answered Apr 11 at 20:18
Pam
3,2971425
answered Apr 11 at 20:18
Pam
3,2971425
3,2971425
Taking into consideration another situation: [* X: I should mend a dripping tap in the kitchen, but I don't know how. Y: I can try to do it. I've been reading a book about hydraulics. *] Does "I've been reading a book" imply that the speaker was riffling through the pages and gathered the useful information, but didn't read the entire book. If "I've read a book" were used instead, would it change the meaning into " the speaker read the entire book (from the beginning to the end), so he/she knows what to do with the dripping tap"? Is my thinking correct? Thanks once again!
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 12 at 0:01
add a comment |
Taking into consideration another situation: [* X: I should mend a dripping tap in the kitchen, but I don't know how. Y: I can try to do it. I've been reading a book about hydraulics. *] Does "I've been reading a book" imply that the speaker was riffling through the pages and gathered the useful information, but didn't read the entire book. If "I've read a book" were used instead, would it change the meaning into " the speaker read the entire book (from the beginning to the end), so he/she knows what to do with the dripping tap"? Is my thinking correct? Thanks once again!
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 12 at 0:01
Taking into consideration another situation: [* X: I should mend a dripping tap in the kitchen, but I don't know how. Y: I can try to do it. I've been reading a book about hydraulics. *] Does "I've been reading a book" imply that the speaker was riffling through the pages and gathered the useful information, but didn't read the entire book. If "I've read a book" were used instead, would it change the meaning into " the speaker read the entire book (from the beginning to the end), so he/she knows what to do with the dripping tap"? Is my thinking correct? Thanks once again!
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 12 at 0:01
Taking into consideration another situation: [* X: I should mend a dripping tap in the kitchen, but I don't know how. Y: I can try to do it. I've been reading a book about hydraulics. *] Does "I've been reading a book" imply that the speaker was riffling through the pages and gathered the useful information, but didn't read the entire book. If "I've read a book" were used instead, would it change the meaning into " the speaker read the entire book (from the beginning to the end), so he/she knows what to do with the dripping tap"? Is my thinking correct? Thanks once again!
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 12 at 0:01
add a comment |
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Welcome to ELU! You might find some answers for this kind of thing among the existing questions on English Language Learners. It’s a valid question, though. In the dialogue example, I would say the washing is finished: "I have been..." vs "I am...". However, you "have been wondering", but I dare say you are still wondering, so the wondering is not yet finished!
– Pam
Apr 11 at 17:39
Thanks for the reply! Let's put aside the fact that the action could be still going on. Let's place the progressive "washing the car" action in the past, which is mentioned to explain the current "wet" state of the person. How to figure out whether the action was completed or just left uncompleted?
– Troll Osiedlowy
Apr 11 at 18:33