The Continuous Aspect

The Continuous Aspect

Continuous forms can:

1) emphasise that an action lasts for some time
e.g. we were waiting for ages!

2) emphasise that an action is repeated
e.g. I rang you this morning
I was ringing you all morning!

3) describe an action that is in progress at a particular time
e.g. He was just having breakfast when the postman came

4) describe a situation which is temporary
e.g. They’d been staying at their sister’s house for a few days.

Compare the following pairs of sentences:

I’ve cut my finger
I’ve been cutting firewood

She’s visited her relatives in Canada
She’s been visiting her relatives in Canada

We’ll have dinner at eight
We’ll be having dinner at eight

Solution:

I’ve cut my finger (= action lasts a moment only)
I’ve been cutting firewood (= action lasts some time)

She’s visited her relatives in Canada (= one visit)
She’s been visiting her relatives in Canada (= she’s visited several people)

We’ll have dinner at eight (= the meal will begin then)
We’ll be having dinner at eight (= the meal will be in progress)