Learn English – You have gone through – you have been going through

perfect-aspectpresent-tense

Is there a difference in meaning between the following two sentences?

  1. I can't even imagine what you have gone through.

  2. I can't even imagine what you have been going through.

Best Answer

There is a subtle difference in the implications of these statements.

I can't even imagine what you have gone through.

This statement implies that the person has suffered a lot in their recent past and somewhat their sufferings have subsided by now.

I can't even imagine what you have been going through.

This statement implies that the person is still in a state of suffering. Their sufferings are not fully over by now.