Lesson 2
Present Perfect Simple (prezentul perfect simplu) este un timp verbal care ne permite să vorbim
despre acțiuni completate într-un trecut nedefinit, legate într-un fel de prezent. El este des folosit
pentru a exprima experiențe de viață, realizări sau schimbări care s-au petrecut de-a lungul
timpului.
Pe de altă parte, Present Perfect Continuous (prezentul perfect continuu) pune accent pe
continuitatea sau durata unei acțiuni care a început în trecut și care poate continua până în prezent
sau care s-a terminat recent, având un impact vizibil sau palpabil.
Anumite adverbe sau expresii temporale te pot ghida în alegerea timpului corect. De exemplu, „for”
și „since” sunt adesea folosiți cu prezentul perfect continuu pentru a indica durata, în timp ce
„already”, „ever”, „never”, „yet” sunt mai des asociate cu prezentul perfect simplu.
Present Perfect Simple
Structure:
Affirmative: Subject + have/has + past participle ( V+ ed)
Negative: Subject + have/ has not + past participle
Questions: Have/ Has + Subject + past participle
We use this tense for unfinished and finished actions.
Unfinished Actions
1: We use this tense when we want to talk about unfinished actions or states or habits that started in
the past and continue to the present. Usually we use it to say 'how long' and we need 'since' or 'for'.
We often use stative verbs.
I've known Karen since 1994.
She's lived in London for three years.
I've worked here for six months.
'Since' and 'For'
We use 'since' with a fixed time in the past (2004, April 23rd, last year). The fixed time can be
another action, which is in the past simple (since I was at school, since I arrived).
I've known Sam since 1992.
I've liked chocolate since I was a child.
She's been here since 2pm.
We use 'for' with a period of time (2 hours, three years, six months).
I've known Julie for ten years.
I've been hungry for hours.
She's had a cold for a week.
Finished Actions
2: Life experience. These are actions or events that happened sometime during a person's life. We
don't say when the experience happened, and the person needs to be alive now. We often use the
words 'ever' and 'never' here.
I have been to Tokyo.
They have visited Paris three times.
We have never seen that film.
3: With an unfinished time word (this month, this week, today). The period of time is still
continuing.
I haven't seen her this month.
She's drunk three cups of coffee today.
I've already moved house twice this year!
We CAN'T use the present perfect with a finished time word.
NOT:I've seen him yesterday.
4: A finished action with a result in the present (focus on result). We often use the present perfect to
talk about something that happened in the recent past, but that is still true or important now.
Sometimes we can use the past simple here, especially in US English.
I've lost my keys (so I can't get into my house).
She's hurt her leg (so she can't play tennis today).
They've missed the bus (so they will be late).
5: We can also use the present perfect to talk about something that happened recently, even if there
isn't a clear result in the present. This is common when we want to introduce news and we often use
the words 'just / yet / already / recently'. However, the past simple is also correct in these cases,
especially in US English.
The Queen has given a speech.
I've just seen Lucy.
The Mayor has announced a new plan for the railways.
Been and Gone
In this tense, we use both 'been' and 'gone' as the past participle of 'go', but in slightly different
circumstances. We use 'been' (often when we talk about life experience) to mean that the person
we're talking about visited the place and came back.
I've been to Paris (in my life, but now I'm in London, where I live).
She has been to school today (but now she's back at home).
They have never been to California.
We use 'gone' (often when we are talking about an action with a result in the present) to mean that
the person went to the place and is at the place now.
Where's John? He's gone to the shops (he's at the shops now).
Julie has gone to Mexico (now she's in Mexico).
They've gone to Japan for three weeks (now they're in Japan).
Present Perfect Progressive
Structure:
Affirmative: Subject + have/has + been + present participle (-ing form)
Negative: Subject + have/has not + present participle
Questions: Have/ Has + Subject + present participle
Unfinished actions
1: To say how long for unfinished actions which started in the past and continue to the present. We
often use this with 'for' and 'since' (see the the present perfect simple page for more about 'for' and
'since').
I've been living in London for two years.
She's been working here since 2004.
We've been waiting for the bus for hours.
This use is very similar to how we use the present perfect simple, and often it's possible to use
either tense. Of course, with stative verbs, we can't use the present perfect continuous.
I've been here for hours.
NOT: I've been being here for hours.
2: For temporary habits or situations. The action started in the past and continues to the present in
the same way as with use number 1, but we don't answer the questions about 'how long' so clearly.
Instead, we use a word like 'recently'.
I've been going to the gym a lot recently.
They've been living with his mother while they look for a house.
I've been reading a lot recently.
This is very similar to the use of the present continuous for temporary habits and often either tense
is possible.
Finished actions
3: Actions which have recently stopped (though the whole action can be unfinished) and have a
result, which we can often see, hear, or feel, in the present. We don't use a time word here.
I'm so tired, I've been studying.
I've been running, so I'm really hot.
It's been raining so the pavement is wet.
The present perfect simple has a very similar use, which focuses on the result of the action, whereas
the present perfect continuous focuses on the action itself.
Differences Between Present Perfect Simple and Progressive
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
Focuses on the result Focuses on the process/activity
Used for completed actions Used for ongoing actions
Stresses “how many times” Stresses “how long”
Example: I have written three reports. Example: I have been writing reports all day.
A panoramic view of their Rules
We use both of these tenses for finished and unfinished actions.
The present perfect simple can be used (often with 'since' and 'for') to talk about unfinished
actions that started in the past and are still true in the present. It's often used with stative
verbs:
I've known John for three years.
The present perfect continuous can also be used (often with 'since' and 'for') to talk about unfinished
actions that started in the past and are still true in the present. (Of course, we don't use the present
perfect continuous with stative verbs):
She's been living here for three years.
Sometimes there's really no difference in meaning between the two tenses. This is especially the
case with verbs such as 'live', 'work' and 'study':
They've lived in London since 2004.
They've been living in London since 2004.
I've studied French for ten years.
I've been studying French for ten years.
He's worked at the company since 2009.
He's been working at our company since 2009.
Sometimes, there is a difference in meaning:
1: The present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise the length of time that has passed. The
present perfect simple is generally neutral:
They've been waiting for hours! (This emphasises the length of time).
They've waited for hours. (This doesn't emphasise the length of time).
2: On the other hand, the present perfect simple is often used when we're talking about how much or
how many. This isn't possible with the present perfect continuous:
She's drunk three cups of coffee this morning.
She's drunk at least a litre of coffee today.
(NOT: she's been drinking three cups of coffee this morning).
3: The present perfect continuous often focuses on the action itself, while the present perfect simple
focuses on the fact that the action is completed:
I've been reading the book you recommended. (I'm enjoying it, but I'm not finished).
I've read the book you recommended. (I've finished it, so we can talk about it).
We use 'yet' and 'already' with the present perfect simple:
Have you read the book yet?
She's finished her work already.
This difference is often used to talk about different kinds of results in the present. The present
perfect simple is used when the action is finished, and the result comes from the action being
finished:
I've eaten dinner, so let's go out.
She's done all her homework, so she can relax this evening.
I've made a cake. Would you like some?
The present perfect continuous is used when the result comes from the action itself. It doesn't matter
if the whole action is finished or not. The result is often something we can see, hear, smell, or feel:
I've been eating dinner, so there are plates all over the table.
She's been doing her homework, so she's tired.
I've been making a cake, that's why the kitchen is such a mess.
4: Finally, the present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise that something is temporary:
She's been running a lot recently. (She doesn't usually do this).
Usually I study at home, but I've been studying in the library for the last week.
Choose the correct tense: present perfect simple or present perfect progressive.
Beatrice has read / has been reading for half an hour.
Laura has written / has been writing five letters.
I have worked / have been working on this project for less than an hour, so
I still have not prepared / have not been preparing all the documents.
Ralph is very tired because he has not slept / has not been sleeping for 26 hours.
Complete the sentences using the present perfect simple or the present perfect progressive.
I (study) …. all day.
I am afraid I (learn/not) …. much.
Andrew (eat) …. two bars of chocolate today.
The boy’s clothes are dirty because he (play) … in the mud all afternoon.
I (arrive/just) … at the station.
We are exhausted because we (do) …. exercise all morning.
Edward feels a bit unsteady because he (cycle/not) …. for five years.
How long (you/work) …. for this company?
The kids (finish/not)… their homework yet.
Niall (watch) … the film seven times.
Answears
Choose the correct tense: present perfect simple or present perfect progressive.
1. Beatrice has been reading for half an hour.
2. Laura has written five letters.
3. I have been working on this project for less than an hour, so
I still have not prepared all the documents.
4. Ralph is very tired because he has not slept for 26 hours.
Complete the sentences using the present perfect simple or the present perfect progressive.
1. I have been studying all day, but
I am afraid I have not learnt much.
2. Andrew has eaten two bars of chocolate today.
3. The boy’s clothes are dirty because he has been playing in the mud all afternoon.
4. I have just arrived at the station.
5. We are exhausted because we have been doing exercise all morning.
6. Edward feels a bit unsteady because he has not cycled for five years.
7. How long have you been working for this company?
8. The kids have not finished their homework yet.
9. Niall has watched the film seven times.
