THE PRESENT PERFECT THE PRESENT PERFECT AND THE PRESENT AND THE PRESENT

PERFECT CONTINUOUS: PERFECT CONTINUOUS: FINISHED AND FINISHED AND

UNFINISHED ACTIONSUNFINISHED ACTIONS

FINISHED ACTIONS:FINISHED ACTIONS:

For finished actions, use the For finished actions, use the PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE.

Finished action = when an action is Finished action = when an action is completed at an unspecified time in completed at an unspecified time in the past. the past.

WORDS AND PHRASES USED WORDS AND PHRASES USED WITH THE PRESENT PERFECT WITH THE PRESENT PERFECT

SIMPLE (for finished actions):SIMPLE (for finished actions):

already – ever – never – yet – once – twice – three

times – four times – How many times...? – so far -

just

UNFINISHED ACTIONS – WORDS UNFINISHED ACTIONS – WORDS AND PHRASES OFTEN USEDAND PHRASES OFTEN USED

FOR – LATELY – THESE DAYS – SINCE – FOR – LATELY – THESE DAYS – SINCE – RECENTLY – FOR A WHILE – ALL DAY RECENTLY – FOR A WHILE – ALL DAY – THIS YEAR – HOW LONG...?– THIS YEAR – HOW LONG...?

EXAMPLES - SIMPLE: EXAMPLES - SIMPLE:

I’I’ve ve already already seenseen that film. I saw it that film. I saw it yesterday.yesterday.

Sandra Sandra hashas never never beenbeen to France. to France.

How many times How many times havehave you you eateneaten Mexican food? Mexican food?

I’I’veve watchedwatched that DVD three times. that DVD three times.

I’I’ve written ve written 5 letters so far.5 letters so far.

EXAMPLES - CONTINUOUSEXAMPLES - CONTINUOUS I’I’ve been living ve been living here for a few years.here for a few years. How long How long havehave you you been learningbeen learning

English for? English for?

She She hasn’t been drinkinghasn’t been drinking for a few for a few years.* years.*

It’s been raining all day. It’s been raining all day.

For non-continuous verbs we should For non-continuous verbs we should use the present perfect. Some of use the present perfect. Some of these verbs include: want, know, these verbs include: want, know, need, like, have (possession), cost need, like, have (possession), cost etc.etc.

I’I’ve wanted ve wanted to do this for a long time. to do this for a long time. She’She’s had s had many cars in her life. many cars in her life. They’They’ve needed ve needed help for a while. help for a while.

VERY RECENTLY FINISHED VERY RECENTLY FINISHED ACTIONS: AN EXCEPTIONACTIONS: AN EXCEPTION

The Present Perfect Continuous is The Present Perfect Continuous is preferred to describe very recently preferred to describe very recently completed actions when results can completed actions when results can still be seen.still be seen.

EXAMPLES:EXAMPLES: They’They’ve been practicingve been practicing. I see them . I see them

putting their instruments away.putting their instruments away.

HaveHave you you been drinkingbeen drinking? I can smell ? I can smell alcohol on your breath.alcohol on your breath.

Why are you so wet? – Why are you so wet? – I’ve been I’ve been washingwashing the car. the car.

UNFINISHED OR CONTINUING UNFINISHED OR CONTINUING ACTIONSACTIONS

Sometimes there's really Sometimes there's really no no differencedifference in meaning in meaning between the two tenses. between the two tenses. This is especially the case This is especially the case with verbs such as with verbs such as 'live', 'live', ‘listen’, 'work' ‘listen’, 'work' andand 'study 'study‘.‘.

They'They've lived ve lived in London since 2004. in London since 2004. They'They've been living ve been living in London since in London since

2004.2004. I'I've studied ve studied French for ten years. French for ten years. I'I've been studying ve been studying French for ten French for ten

years.years. He'He's worked s worked at the company since at the company since

2009. 2009. He'He's been working s been working at our company at our company

since 2009.since 2009.

Sometimes, there is a difference Sometimes, there is a difference in meaning: in meaning:

1: The Pres. Perf. continuous can be used to emphasise the length of time that has passed. The present perfect

simple is generally neutral:

They'They've been waiting ve been waiting for hours! (This for hours! (This emphasises the length of time). emphasises the length of time).

They'They've waited ve waited for hours. (This for hours. (This doesn't emphasise the length of doesn't emphasise the length of time).time).

2: On the other hand, the present 2: On the other hand, the present perfect simple is often used when perfect simple is often used when we're talking about how much or we're talking about how much or

how many. This isn't possible with how many. This isn't possible with the present perfect continuous: the present perfect continuous:

She'She's drunk s drunk three cups of coffee this three cups of coffee this morning. morning.

She'She's drunk s drunk at least a litre of coffee at least a litre of coffee today. today.

(NOT: she's been drinking three cups (NOT: she's been drinking three cups of coffee this morning).of coffee this morning).

3: The present perfect continuous 3: The present perfect continuous often focuses on the action itself, often focuses on the action itself, while the present perfect simple while the present perfect simple

focuses on the fact that the action focuses on the fact that the action is completed: is completed:

I'I've been reading ve been reading the book you the book you recommended. (I'm enjoying it, but recommended. (I'm enjoying it, but I'm not finished). I'm not finished).

I'I've readve read the book you the book you recommended. (I've finished it, so we recommended. (I've finished it, so we can talk about it).can talk about it).

We use 'yet' and 'already' with the We use 'yet' and 'already' with the present perfect simple: present perfect simple:

Have Have you you read read the book yet? the book yet?

She'She's finisheds finished her work already. her work already.

This difference is often used to talk This difference is often used to talk about different kinds of results in the about different kinds of results in the present. present.

The present perfect simple is used The present perfect simple is used when the action is finished, and the when the action is finished, and the result comes from the action being result comes from the action being finished: finished:

I'I've eaten ve eaten dinner, so let's go out. dinner, so let's go out.

She'She's done s done all her homework, so she all her homework, so she can relax this evening.can relax this evening.

I'I've made ve made a cake. Would you like a cake. Would you like

some?some?

The The present perfect continuouspresent perfect continuous is is used when the result comes from the used when the result comes from the action itself. action itself.

It doesn't matter if the whole action It doesn't matter if the whole action is finished or not. is finished or not.

The result is often something we can The result is often something we can see, hear, smell, or feel: see, hear, smell, or feel:

I'I've been eating ve been eating dinner, so there are dinner, so there are plates all over the table. plates all over the table.

She'She's been doing s been doing her homework, so her homework, so she's tired. she's tired.

I'I've been making ve been making a cake, that's why a cake, that's why the kitchen is such a mess.the kitchen is such a mess.

4: Finally, the present perfect 4: Finally, the present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise continuous can be used to emphasise that something is temporary: that something is temporary:

She'She's been running s been running a lot recently. a lot recently. (She doesn't usually do this). (She doesn't usually do this).

Usually I study at home, but I'Usually I study at home, but I've ve been studying been studying in the library for the in the library for the last week.last week.