PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS

What's the difference?

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE FORM : have / has + past participle USES : 1. LIFE EXPERIENCES I’ve been to China She’s ridden a horse

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE 2. ALREADY, JUST & YET They’ve just left She’s already called her friend They haven’t finished yet

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE SUPERLATIVES & “THE FIRST, SECOND, LAST TIME”, ETC It’s the best meal I’ve ever had It’s the first time he’s given a speech

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE 3. CONNECTION PAST & PRESENT I’ve sprained my ankle, as you can see He’s lost his keys

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE 4. HOW LONG / FOR/ SINCE (NON- ACTION VERBS: be, have, know, like, etc ) I ’ve known Maria for 10 years They ’ve had that car since 2007

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE 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 + ING USES : 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

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS 2. REPEATED ACTIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH TIME EXPRESSIONS LIKE ALL DAY, RECENTLY, ETC I have been arguing with my husband lately. The phone has been ringing all day.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS 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 1980 We’ve been living in London since 1980 We’ve been staying in a hotel for the last month

SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS? PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE: Emphasis on the RESULT of the action I’ve painted my living room PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS: Emphasis on the DURATION of the action I’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.emphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive My team has only wonemphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple two matches so far.emphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple The others have always beenemphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple 'be' is not normally used in the progressive form better.emphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple 'be' is not normally used in the progressive form Are we not there yet? We have been walkingemphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive for hours.emphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive But we have only coveredemphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple an area of five miles so far.emphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple I have just finished emphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple my homework.emphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple I have been workingemphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive on this essay since two o'clock.emphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive Jane has been going outemphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive with Bob for seven years.emphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive Martin has datedemphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple three girls this week.emphasis on the result = Present Perfect Simple How long have you been waitingemphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive for us?emphasis on the duration = Present Perfect Progressive