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nam
Hi everyone on Italki, please tell me which of these two sentences is correct and why. Thank you so much.
1. I have painted this wall for an hour.
2. I have been painting this wall for an hour.
Oct 25, 2025 4:23 PM
Answers · 2
When you use a set period of time, like one hour, and your task is incomplete, use the continuous tense.
I painted the wall for an hour. - means the task is finished. You are no longer going to continue painting.
Oct 27, 2025 6:48 AM
2. is correct. It's difficult to explain why 1. is incorrect. Maybe it 'could' be correct, but only in very strange circumstances. i.e. if one was somehow describing past activities of painting the wall. Sometimes it's better to not worry too much about exact rules and instead just see examples to get familiar with the language.
Oct 26, 2025 4:56 AM
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nam
Language Skills
English, Vietnamese
Learning Language
English
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