PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE + PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS



Present Perfect Continuous

Form

has/have + been + present participle

Uses

-Duration from the past until now:

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes", "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous.

-Recently, Lately:

You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.

Examples

• She has been working at that company for three years.
• What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
• Recently, I have been feeling really tired.
• She has been watching too much television lately.
• Have you been exercising lately?
• They have been talking for the last hour.

Present Perfect Simple

Form

has/have + past participle

Uses

-Unspecified time before now:

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc. The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate Present Perfect with the following topics: Experience, Change over time, Accomplishments, An uncompleted action you are expecting, Multiple Actions at Different Times.

-Duration From the Past Until Now:

With Non-Continuous verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Present Perfect to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect. Although the above use of Present Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs. You can place grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples

• I have seen that movie twenty times.
• I think I have met Tony once before.
• There have been many earthquakes in California.
• People have traveled to the Moon.
• People have not traveled to Mars.
• Have you read the book yet?
• Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
• A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
  B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.

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