I have been doing it for four years vs I have done it for four years

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'I have been doing it for four years' implies ongoing action or activity that started in the past and continues up to the present. 'I have done it for four years' implies a completed action or activity that started in the past and lasted for a period of four years.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 2377 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate an ongoing action or activity that started in the past and continues up to the present.

"I have been doing it for four years"

This phrase is used to express that the action of doing something started four years ago and is still ongoing.

Examples:

I have been working at this company for four years.
She has been learning French for four years.
They have been living in that house for four years.

Show examples from the web [+]

You've been not doing it for four years.
We've been doing this for four years.
We've been doing this for four years.
I've been doing Parpaillon for four years.
I'll show you what he's been doing for, for four years.
My question is: 'what have you been doing for four years? '
And that's what I've been doing for almost four years now.
What the hell have you been doing the past four years?
He's doing this because four years ago, something happened in our team.
He looked unkempt, he refused to engage in questions about what he'd been doing for the past four years -
What the staff might not notice... I notice because I have been doing it for so long.
And spend the next four years doing what you love with the person that you love.
Another imposes an obligation on Member States to draw up an inventory of closed sites, with rehabilitation work to start on those which are causing serious negative environmental impacts, or risk doing so, within four years.
I have been doing this alone.
Fighting British Nuclear Fuels and the British nuclear industry is never an easy task - I have been doing it for many years.
Although I did share a room with you for four years, so I know she's doing it despite the drooling and bed-wetting.
They say Kulikov himself personally worked on it for four years.
I've lived with it for four years.
I've lived with it for four years.
They are doing it themselves and have been doing so for a long time.

Alternatives:

I have been doing it since four years ago.
I have been engaged in it for four years.

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate a completed action or activity that started in the past and lasted for a period of four years.

"I have done it for four years"

This phrase is used to express that the action of doing something started four years ago and has now been completed.

Examples:

I have done yoga for four years.
She has done volunteer work for four years.
They have done research for four years.

Show examples from the web [+]

Verduga from Charlie Team has done it four years running.
And, as he had done four years earlier...
My brother had done four years of medicine by 21.
You don't lie to a guy who's just done four years in the slammer.
Well, I've already done four years in the military!
This was done nearly four years ago.
I have a feeling that, in four days, certain Members of the Council have done more damage to the European project than all the Euro-sceptics put together have done in four years.
We should've done that four years ago.
Do you know what they could have done in there in four years?
Marathon runner - done it four times this year.
He's-He's been in a position to know everything from the beginning, Everything that we've done over the past four years.
Looking back at what has been done during these past four years, it is easy to see that, if you eliminate the meaningless buzzwords of 'solidarity' and 'mobilisation', few measures have actually been taken to address this alarming situation.
If you compare how Obama did against how John Kerry had done four years earlier - Democrats really like seeing this transition here, where almost every state becomes bluer, becomes more democratic - even states Obama lost, like out west,
They say Kulikov himself personally worked on it for four years.
I've lived with it for four years.
You've been not doing it for four years.
I've lived with it for four years.
He's already done two years and four months of purgatory.
I have done nothing for the last four years but think about this moment, waiting for the time that I can make you beautiful again.
The Redskins have held it for four years, and none of their wishes have come true.

Alternatives:

I have completed it over a period of four years.
I have practiced it for four years.

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I have been doing it for four years vs I have done it for four years