Present
Perfect Simple – Present Perfect Continuous
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and
is still going on or has just finished.
Before we go on, remember that some verbs are NOT used in the continuous tenses, whether it's the present perfect continuous or any other:
Certain verbs are not
used in continuous tenses
The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple
(not in the continuous form).
- state:
be, have (for possession only): We have
been on holiday for two weeks.
- senses:
feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch: He
has touched the painting.
- brain work:
believe, know, think, understand: I have
known him for 3 years.
(It's a bit more complicated than this, but we can't go into details now)
In many cases, both forms are correct,
but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect
Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the
result. We use the Present Perfect Continuous to emphasise the duration
or continuous course of an action.
Result or duration?
Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action
has been going on yet?
Present Perfect Simple
|
Present Perfect Continuous
|
Result
(what / how much / how often)
|
Duration
(how long)
|
I have written five letters/ I’ve been to London twice
|
I’ve been writing for an hour
|
Emphasis on completion or
duration?
Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous
course (how has somebody spent his time)?
Present Perfect Simple
|
Present Perfect Continuous
|
Emphasis on completion
|
Emphasis on duration
|
I have done my
homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.)
|
I have been doing my
homework. (Meaning: That's how I have spent my time. It does not matter
whether the homework is completed now. Probably not)
|
Result or present results?
Do you want to express that a completed action led to a desired result
or that the action had an unwanted side effect?
Present Perfect Simple
|
Present Perfect Continuous
|
desired result
|
action has just stopped but has present results ("side effect")
|
I have washed the car. (Result:
The car is clean now.)
|
Why are you so wet? - I
have been washing the car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing
the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.)
|
Signal words
Present Perfect Simple
|
Present Perfect Continuous
|
how many times
…times
|
how long (But remember that some verbs
since can't be used in the continuous!)
for
|
And now, let’s be practical…
- ·
When we ask or
say HOW LONG, the continuous is more usual. This is very common with verbs like
LIVE, WORK, RAIN, LEARN, WAIT, DO STUDY, etc.:
I’ve been learning
English for six months.
It’s been raining
since lunchtime.
Richard has been doing
the same job for twenty years.
How long have you been
driving? --Since I was 18.
I’ve been cooking all
morning.
This use often translates as LLEVA + gerundio: lleva nevando, llevo trabajando, hace
cuánto que + presente
- ·
Use the
continuous when talking about “present results”:
My hands are cold because I’ve been doing the
washing-up with cold water.
His clothes are greasy because he’s been cooking.
He’s sweating
because he’s been working out in the gym.
- ·
When the emphasis
is on completion, result, or you use …TIMES, or a number, choose the simple
tense.
She´s
worked out four of the six problems.
They’ve
been to Scotland twice.
How many
times have you worn that dress?
And remember the most common mistakes in the use of
the present perfect are…
- ·
Using
the present simple instead:
I know him since I was seven.
- The
incorrect use of FOR and SINCE:
since
three years.
- ·
Making
up inexistent tenses: How long
have you studying Chinese?
