PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS

What's the difference?

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

FORM: have / has + past participleUSES:

1. LIFE EXPERIENCESI’ve been to ChinaShe’s ridden a horse


2. ALREADY, JUST & YET

They’ve just leftShe’s already called her friendThey haven’t finished yet


SUPERLATIVES & “THE FIRST, SECOND, LAST TIME”, ETC

It’s the best meal I’ve ever hadIt’s the first time he’s given a speech


3. CONNECTION PAST & PRESENTI’ve sprained my ankle, as you can see

He’s lost his keys


4. HOW LONG / FOR/ SINCE (NON-ACTION VERBS:be, have,

know, like, etc)I’ve known Maria for 10 yearsThey’ve had that car since 2007


5. HOW MUCH / HOW MANY

How many books have you written?

I’ve spent too much money

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

FORM: HAVE / HAS + BEEN + VERB + INGUSES:1. “HOW LONG / FOR / SINCE” WITH ACTION VERBS (action started in past & continues now)

How long have you been feeling like this?

She’s been travelling by bus for 5 years


2. REPEATED ACTIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH TIME EXPRESSIONS LIKE ALL

DAY, RECENTLY, ETCI have been arguing with my husband lately.

The phone has been ringing all day.


3. CONTINUOUS ACTIONS THAT HAVE JUST FINISHED (WITH RESULT IN THE

PRESENT)

He’s been running all day. He’s dead!

A: Look at your hands! They’re so filthy!B: I know. I’ve been painting the living room

SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS?

With “How long?, For & Since” we can use both. However, we prefer the continuous for shorter, temporary actions.We’ve lived in London since 1980We’ve been living in London since 1980We’ve been staying in a hotel for the last month

SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS?

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE: Emphasis on the RESULT of the actionI’ve painted my living roomPRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:Emphasis on the DURATION of the actionI’ve been painting my living room

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive)

I (play) _______ football for five years.

My team (win / only)______ two matches so far.

The others (be / always)______ better.

Are we not there yet? We (walk) _______ for hours.

But we (cover / only) _______ an area of five miles so far.

I (finish/just) _______ my homework.

I (work) _______ on this essay since two o'clock.

Jane (go out) _______ with Bob for seven years.

Martin (date) _______ three girls this week.

How long (wait / you) _______ for us?

I have been playingemphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive football for five years.

My team has only wonemphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple two matches so far.

The others have always beenemphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple'be' is not normally used in the progressive form better.

Are we not there yet? We have been walkingemphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive for hours.

But we have only coveredemphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple an area of five miles so far.

I have just finished emphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple my homework.

I have been workingemphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive on this essay since two o'clock.

Jane has been going outemphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive with Bob for seven years.

Martin has datedemphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple three girls this week.

How long have you been waitingemphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive for us?

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS

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