
I donโt understand when to use Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous. Can you explain it?
The Present Perfect tense might be one of the main reasons why English language learners all over the world hate grammar. It expresses a time aspect that is either non-existent in their language or is expressed with totally different tools.
To help you overcome this difficulty, I would like to draw your attention to the KEYWORDS and phrases that are often used together with Present Perfect. If you memorize these expressions, you wonโt have to think about WHY you are using Present Perfect, you can just use it automatically. These keywords usually have the same position in the sentence, so you will also learn the correct word order!
Present perfect simple is a useful way to describe actions or activities that have already happened. Get started learning English with our free online lessons!
Present Perfect Simple meaning
1. The present perfect simple tense is used when describing an action or event that has already happened in time.
2. Itโs also known as a past continuous activity.
3. In English, the present perfect simple tense is formed by adding -ed to the verb form.
4. Example sentence: if I said โI have been studying French for two years now,โ then I would be using the present perfect simple tense.
Form of Present Perfect Simple
I / you / we / they = HAVE or 3rd person: he / she = HAS
+ list of irregular verbs or regular verbs with -ED
In grammar, the present perfect tense (or past continuous) indicates that an action was completed in the past but continues into the present.
Form in Sentence
For example, I have been studying for three years means that I began studying three years ago and still study today.
Use of Present Perfect Simple
tense (have + past participle) is used to describe something that happened before now or was true at some point in the past.
Use in a sentence
POSITIVE Sentences (form in sentence)
- I have read a book. Iโve read a book.
- He has read a book. Heโs read a book.
NEGATIVE Sentences (form in sentence)
- I have not read it. I havenโt read it.
- He has not read it. He hasnโt read it.
QUESTION Sentences (form in sentence)
- Have you read it?
- Has he read it?
ever, never
- Have you ever been to Turkey?
- Has your mother ever read your diary?
- Iโve never eaten sushi.
- Laura has never seen the sea.
Use โeverโ in questions and โneverโ in negative sentences.
For positive sentences you can add the word โalreadyโ:
- Iโve (already) been to Turkey twice.
- Lauraโs (already) seen the sea.
already, yet, so far
(until now)
- Have you done your homework yet?
- Has your sister arrived yet?
- I havenโt cleaned the windows yet.
- They havenโt called yet.
- Sue hasnโt bought the tickets yet.
- Iโve already bought them.
- Heโs already called.
- Theyโve already arrived.
- Iโve sent out ten invitations so far.
- Iโve had no problems with my new car so far.
- How many museums have you visited so far?
Use โyetโ for questions and negative sentences and โalreadyโ for positive sentences. โSo farโ may be used in every case.
just
(completed a short time ago)
- Iโve just met the new boss.
- Sheโs just called.
- Weโve just finished lunch.
- Theyโve just bought a new car.
- The trainโs just left.
recently, lately
(completed not long ago)
- Have you seen any good films recently?
- I havenโt met him lately.
- Has she been here recently?
- They havenโt practised a lot lately.
still
(used when something is not done until now, but we expected it to be done)
- I wonder where Jack and Tim are. They still havenโt called.
- My mumโs getting better, but she still hasnโt recovered fully.
- The guests can be here any minute and you still havenโt got dressed!
how long/ since/ for, for ages
(action started in the past and still in progress in the present)
- How long have you known Janet?
- Iโve known her for ages.
- Sheโs had that car for two years.
- Peter and Robert have been best friends since they were kids.
- My parents have been married since 1980.
KeyWords of Present Perfect
ever, never, already, ever, just, never, yet, not yet, so far, till now, up to now, recently, lately, still, since, for ages.
Perfect Sentences:
- Have you done your homework yet?
- The trainโs just left.
- Has she been here recently?
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
For of Present Perfect Continuous
HAVE/HAS BEEN + โฆING
Use of Present Perfect Continuous
POSITIVE Sentences
- I have been living here for a long time. Iโve been living here for a long time.
- She has been living here for a long time. Sheโs been living here for a long time.
NEGATIVE Sentences
- I have not been living here for a long time. I havenโt been living here for a long time.
- She has not been living here for a long time. She hasnโt been living here for a long time.
QUESTIONS Sentences
- Have you been living here for a long time?
- Has she been living here for a long time?
how long / since / for, for ages
(action started in the past and still in progress in the present)
- How long have you been working here?
- Iโve been working here since 2002.
- Tomโs been doing karate since he was five.
- Theyโve been looking for a flat for months.
- Iโve been taking singing lessons for a year.
- John and Suzie have been going out for ages.
Whatโs the difference between Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous?
- Iโve worked here for two years.
- Iโve been working here for two years.
When you use the continuous form (WORKING), the focus is on the present. It shows that โworkingโ is in progress at the moment. It may not be a permanent situation.
When you use the simple form (WORKED), it shows that the situation is permanent. The focus is on the time that has passed. I have COMPLETED two years of work.
Look at the following examples:
- Iโve written a hundred pages. (100 pages are completed)
- Iโve been writing this book for months. (I am still writing, the book is not completed)
- Weโve discussed it. (we are not talking about it anymore, the discussion is completed)
- Weโve been discussing it for hours. (we are still talking about it)
- Iโve painted the kitchen yellow. (the work is completed)
- Iโve been painting the kitchen all day. (I am still painting, itโs not completed)
- Iโve been calling people all morning. (Iโm still calling people, itโs not completed)
- Iโve called ten people so far. (those ten calls are completed)
Note: state verbs canโt be used in the continuous form.
- Iโve known her for ten years. (I still know her, but the form โknowingโ is NOT correct)
- Iโve had this car for a year. (I still have it, but the form โhavingโ is NOT correct)
lately / recently
(action repeated many times not long ago)
- Iโve been exercising a lot lately.
- You havenโt been practicing your French lately.
- Iโve been seeing him a lot recently.
- My sonโs been drawing cartoons recently.
- Timโs been talking a lot about you lately.
WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING? recently finished activity with visible results in the present
- โWhy are you so red?โ โIโve been sunbathing.โ (I stopped sunbathing a short time ago and now you can see the result)
- โWhy are you covered in paint?โ โIโve been decorating the kitchen.โ (I stopped decorating a short time ago and now thereโs paint on my clothes)
- โWhy are you sweating? Have you been running?โ (the person is sweating, he or she stopped running a short time ago)
- My mum is exhausted. Sheโs been cleaning the windows. (she stopped cleaning them a short time ago and now sheโs exhausted)
Question and Answers
What is the difference between the present perfect simple and continuous form?
The main difference between these two tenses is that the present perfect simple indicates an action that has been completed at the moment of speaking while the continuous tense refers to actions that continue into the future.
Present Perfect Continues Sentence Example: He has been traveling for a long time.
We use simple present sentences to talk about events that happen frequently, like everyday life. We use the present perfect tense to talk about events in the past time that still continue to affect us.
What are the differences between lately and recently in present perfect simple?
The difference between lately and recently is that lately refers to an action that happened within the last few days while recently refers to an action that took place within the past few weeks.
How to Teach the Continuous Present Perfect?
Exercise:
Use images to ask how long a person has been doing a certain activity.
- What does that person doing?
- How long has this person been doing that something?
For example, โShe has been working on her computer for several hours. How much longer does she plan to work on it?โ
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Latest comments
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Thank you!
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