He has been sitting here for a hour vs He has been sitting here for the hour

Both phrases are almost correct, but the first one has a small error. The correct phrase is "he has been sitting here for an hour." The second phrase is also correct but has a slightly different meaning, referring to a specific hour rather than a general duration.

Last updated: March 26, 2024

He has been sitting here for a hour

This phrase is incorrect due to the article "a" missing before "hour."

The correct phrase should be "he has been sitting here for an hour," using the indefinite article "a" before "hour" to indicate a general duration of time.

Show examples from the web [+]

We've been sitting here like two hours, dude.
We have been sitting here for an hour.
We've been sitting here for an hour.
We've been sitting here an hour and no one's mentioned Molly's hair.
We've been sitting here for hours and nobody's even glanced at my painting.
I've been sitting here for an hour, waiting for you.
We've been sitting here for three hours.
[drill whirs] We have literally been sitting here for an hour.
You've been sitting here alone for hours, dude.
I can't believe my client has been sitting here for over 24 hours without being charged.
I've been sitting for hours.
He's been sitting ten hours a day.
Excuse me. No, I don't mean to be rude. It's just I've been sitting for hours.
I'm sitting here an hour.
Either that if the girls are sitting here four hours.
You've been sitting there for hours.
We've been sitting here talking for hours... and you're going to insult me like I have no idea what you really do?
I've been sitting here for an hour and a half!
You realize we've been sitting here for 14 hours?
She's been sitting there for five hours.

Alternatives:

he has been sitting here for an hour
he has been sitting here for hours
he has been sitting here for a long time
he has been sitting here for quite a while
he has been sitting here for a short period

He has been sitting here for the hour

This phrase is correct and refers to a specific hour rather than a general duration of time.

This phrase is used when referring to a specific hour, such as waiting for a particular time to arrive or an event to occur.

Show examples from the web [+]

We've been sitting here like two hours, dude.
We have been sitting here for an hour.
We've been sitting here for an hour.
We've been sitting here an hour and no one's mentioned Molly's hair.
We've been sitting here for hours and nobody's even glanced at my painting.
I've been sitting here for an hour, waiting for you.
We've been sitting here for three hours.
[drill whirs] We have literally been sitting here for an hour.
You've been sitting here alone for hours, dude.
I can't believe my client has been sitting here for over 24 hours without being charged.
I've been sitting for hours.
He's been sitting ten hours a day.
Excuse me. No, I don't mean to be rude. It's just I've been sitting for hours.
I'm sitting here an hour.
Either that if the girls are sitting here four hours.
You've been sitting there for hours.
We've been sitting here talking for hours... and you're going to insult me like I have no idea what you really do?
I've been sitting here for an hour and a half!
You realize we've been sitting here for 14 hours?
She's been sitting there for five hours.

Alternatives:

he has been sitting here for an hour
he has been sitting here for hours
he has been sitting here for a long time
he has been sitting here for quite a while
he has been sitting here for a short period

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He has been sitting here for a hour vs He has been sitting here for the hour