Metkagram · Russian → English transfer · XPRRTR006
Present Perfect for a situation that started in the past
Common transfer form
✕ I am living here for five years.
Target English frame
✓ I have been living here for five years.
Why the error happens
Russian can use a present form for a state or activity continuing from the past. English normally marks the connection to the past with Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous.
What to remember
since/for + still true now → check Present Perfect.
❌ I am [doing X] for [duration]. → ✓ I have been [doing X] for [duration].
More examples
- ❌ We are working on this since Monday. → ✓ We have been working on this since Monday.Мы работаем над этим с понедельника.
- ❌ She is waiting for an answer for two hours. → ✓ She has been waiting for an answer for two hours.Она ждёт ответа уже два часа.
- ❌ I know him since university. → ✓ I have known him since university.Я знаю его со времён университета.
Practise the source patternOpen all Russian-speaker transfer trapsAll Russian-speaker errors