PRESENT
PERFECT
VS
PRESENT
PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
PRESENT
PERFECT
Action
completed
at some
point in the
past
e.g. He has written 16
books.
We use the present perfect tense
to talk about things where there is
a connection between the past
and the future.
He started writing books at some
time in the past. So far, he has
written 16 books. He may write
more books.
There is a result in
present
NOW
AS WELL AS THEPRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE, WE CAN USE THEPRESENT
PERFECT CONTINUOUSTENSE TO
TALK ABOUT EVENTS WITH A
CONNECTION TO THE PRESENT.
Study the following examples:
I have painted the living room blue.
I have been decorating the house this
summer.
I HAVE PAINTED
THE LIVING ROOM
BLUE.
The focus is on
the result.
The activity is
finished and we
can see the result
now.
I HAVE BEEN
DECORATING THE
HOUSE THIS SUMMER.
The focus in on
the action
decorating and
the action is
unfinished.
We use thepresent perfect continuouswhen
the focus is on an activity that is unfinished.
PAST
NOW
IVE READ THAT BOOK
YOU LENT ME.
IVE BEEN READING THAT
BOOK YOU LENT ME.
I FINISHED IT YESTERDAY.
IVE GOT ANOTHER 50 PAGES TO
READ.
Thepresent
perfect
simple(Ive
read) gives the
idea of
completion.
Thepresent
perfect
continuous(Ive
been reading)
suggests that
something is
unfinished.
SHES BEEN WRITING
EMAILS FOR 3 HOURS.
Thepresent
perfect
continuous(has
been writing) talks
about how long
something has
been happening.
SHES WRITTEN 10
MESSAGES.
Thepresent
perfect
simple(has
written) talks about
how much/how
many have been
completed.
IVE WORKED HERE
FOR THIRTY
YEARS.
We can use
thepresent
perfect simpleto
talk about how long
when we view
something as
permanent.
I USUALLY WORK IN
LONDON BUT IVE BEEN
WORKING IN BIRMINGHAM
FOR THE LAST 3 WEEKS.
Thepresent
perfect
continuousis
often used to show
that something is
temporary.
SOMETIMES THERES REALLY NO DIFFERENCE IN
MEANING BETWEEN THE TWO TENSES. THIS IS
ESPECIALLY THE CASE WITH VERBS SUCH AS LIVE,
WORK AND STUDY.
Theyve lived in
London since
2004.
Ive studied French
for ten years.
Ive been studying
Theyve been
French for ten
living in London
years.
since 2004.
Hes worked at the company since
2009.
Hes been working at our company
since 2009.
THE PRESENT
PERFECT IS USED
WITH THE
FOLLOWING TIME
EXPRESSIONS:
For
Since
Already
Yet
Always
Just
Ever
Never
So far
Today
This week/month
How long
Lately
Recently
Still (in negations)
THE PRESENT
PERFECT
CONTINUOUS IS
USED WITH THE
FOLLOWING TIME
EXPRESSION:
For
Since
How long
Lately
Recently
1. Linda (travel) around Europe for three
months.
2. She (visit) six countries so far.
3. Jimmy (play) since he was five years
old.
4. He (win) the national championship four
times.
5. Bill and Andy (make) ten films since they left
college.
6. They (make) films for many years
now.
7. Look! Somebody (break) the
window.
8. I (read) the book you gave all
morning.
9. But I (not finish) it yet.
10. Sorry Im late. Thats all right. I (not wait) for a
long time.
11. Peter (clean) the windows for some
time.
12. So far he (clean) five of them and there are two more
to go.
