verb tense question

[darthbenji]

Hi-

i don't quite understand the differences among the following sentences:

1. we have lived in a hut for 3 days.

2. we have been living in a hut for 3 days.

3. we lived in a hut.

4. we have lived in a hut.

is the meaning of each sentence different? do a couple of the sentences have the same meaning? any assistance is appreciated. thanks in advance.

[jlucero]

1. we have lived in a hut since 3 days ago and may continue
OR
we have lived in a hut for exactly 3 days at some point in the past

2. we have been living in a hut since 3 days ago and may continue (more clear than #1)

3. we lived in a hut in the past

4. we have lived in a hut (same as #1- maybe continuing until now, maybe at some point unknown time in the past)

[sw001]

1. we have lived in a hut since 3 days ago and may continue
OR
we have lived in a hut for exactly 3 days at some point in the past

2. we have been living in a hut since 3 days ago and may continue (more clear than #1)

3. we lived in a hut in the past

4. we have lived in a hut (same as #1- maybe continuing until now, maybe at some point unknown time in the past)

Would "We have lived in the hut for 3 days" be more appropriate, because we are currently living in that hut, rather than "a hut".

[RonPurewal]

"The" is acceptable only if the hut has already been mentioned.

More importantly, the GMAT does not test "a"/"an"/"the". So this is a non-issue as far as we're concerned on this forum.