Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[SANDY333]

Dear teachers, I'm wondering if you can help me..

1. Can I replace the sentence I've worked for 2 hours(I've been working for 2 hours?) with "I'm working 2 hours"?

2. And Can I replace the sentence "I had been working for 2 hours" with "I was working 2 hours"?

Do you usually use "Progressive Tense" with "For 2 hours...For 40 minutes...". I wonder if I can use the present continous instead the present perfect continous to explain some action beginning from the past and continuing now...


Best regards,
Sandy

[Nef]

Hello, Sandy

1. Can I replace the sentence I've worked for 2 hours (I've been working for 2 hours?) with "I'm working 2 hours"?

These sentences don't mean the same thing. The first statement ("I've worked for 2 hours") indicates that you've already worked , that you finished the 2 hours of work. (You may have more hours to work that day or you may not. It isn't specified.)

But the second statement ("I'm working 2 hours") gives the impression that you either are still working or haven't started to work yet, but will work for 2 hours once you do start. ("I can't meet you after class because I'm working for 2 hours that day.")

2. And Can I replace the sentence "I had been working for 2 hours" with "I was working 2 hours"?

Not always! These 2 are closer in meaning. But they aren't the same. I have some trouble explaining the difference, but I'll try.

"I had been working for 2 hours" means that you had been working for 2 hours AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED or some other piece of information was introduced. This statement sets the scene.

For example:

"I had been working for 2 hours when I found out that I had won the lottery! I decided not to finish the rest of my 8-hour shift."

"I had been working for 2 hours before I got your message."

"I had been working for 2 hours before I had any customers."

"I had been working for 2 hours by the time you got out of bed!"

"I had been working for 2 hours before I saw what he had done."

"I had been working for 2 hours before I smelled smoke."



On the other hand, "I was working two hours" is more likely to be a response that can stand alone.

For instance:

"What were you doing on Saturday?"
"I was working 2 hours." (or "I worked 2 hours and then...")

"What were you doing during vacation?"
"I was working 2 hours a day."



Do you usually use "Progressive Tense" with "For 2 hours...For 40 minutes...". I wonder if I can use the present continous instead the present perfect continous to explain some action beginning from the past and continuing now..

I think that deciding whether to use the progressive tense is more a matter of overall situation than a matter of hours versus minutes. I want to make sure I understand your question. Are you asking if it's OK to say something like "I am working" instead of "I have been working" to talk about something still going on?

If that's the question, my short answer is YES.

Example:

"What are you doing these days?"
"I am working." or "I have been working." (was and still am)

[SANDY333]

Dear Teacher.....

Wow. Your explanation is so clear that I think I can understand much more easily. I'd tackled those questions for several days but I couldn't find the answers.
I can't thank you enough.


Best regards,
Sandy