Present Perfect Simple and Continuous in English

As he present perfect simpleAs the present perfect continuousThey are used to express actions that started in the past and continue in the present, with little or no difference in meaning between the two. For example:

• my grandparents have lived in this house for a year.(present perfect simple)
• my grandparents have been living in this house for a year.(present perfect continuous)

In certain contexts, the use of present perfect continuous she confers a temporary character to the action, while the present perfect simplegives it a permanent character. For example:

• She has been living with some friends. (present continuous: temporary character)
• the castle you have stood on the top of the hill for a century. (present perfect simple: permanent character)

However, there are certain contexts where there are large differences between the present perfect simpleand continuous, and where the use of only one of them is possible.

• See also: Prayers in "present perfect”

Differences between present perfect simpleand continuous

First, there are differences in the structure of both forms of the present perfect:

• present perfect simple: have / has + past participle. For example: Yo have worked at the company for two years. / I have worked in the company for two years.
• present perfect continuous: have / has been + verb in -ing. For example: Yohave been working at the company for two years. / I have been working in the company for two years.

In addition, in certain contexts, there are large differences between the use of present perfect simpleand of thepresent perfect continuous:

present perfect simple	present perfect continuous
Emphasize the result of the action. The action ended. We have painted the house.	Emphasize the duration of the action. The action may or may not have finished. We have been painting the house.
used with stative verbs(that express states) and with dynamic verbs(expressing actions). Yo have known him for two years. (stative)I have you have worked for a month. (dynamic)	It is only used with dynamic verbs. Yo have been running all day. (dynamic)
It is used together with verbs that imply a short duration. Yo have lost my ID card.	It is not used together with verbs that imply short duration. When done, it indicates repetition. you have been losing your keys all day!
It is usually used with a numeric complement that expresses an achievement. They have run have thousands.	It cannot be used with a number plugin that expresses an achievement. They have been running.(And not: They have been running ten miles)
together with certain verbs (run, read, walk) the plugin is required. I have read book. (And not: I have read)	It can be used without a plugin. I have been reading.

Careful: You can't use the present continuous instead of present perfect simpleeither continuousto refer to actions that started in the past and continue in the present. For example: We have stayed / have been staying at this hotel for two days.(And not: We are staying…)

• It can help you: “past perfect" in English

Examples of sentences in present perfect simple

1. Yo have never been to Thailand.
   I have never been to Thailand.
2. Yo have finished all my tasks.
   I have finished all my tasks.
3. I have have you eaten back.
   He has come back.
4. We have never seen him again.
   We have not seen him again.
5. a woman he has called for you.
   A woman has called you.
6. Yo have already had breakfast.
   I have already had breakfast.
7. Somebody you have knocked at the door.
   Someone has knocked on the door.
8. Have you ever met anybody famous?
   Have you ever met someone famous?
9. The program have you shut down.
   The program has been closed.
10. Yo have broken the vase.
    He have broken the vase.
11. have you anybody left a message for me?
    Has anyone left a message for me?
12. the train you have departed.
    The train has left.
13. que have Yo donate?
    What have I done him?
14. Have you seen my keys?
    Have you seen my keys?
15. the movie have you already started.
    The movie has already started.
16. Have you checked the answers?
    Have you checked the answers?
17. The teacher he hasn't arrived yet.
    The teacher has not arrived yet.
18. Yo haven't taken my medicine today.
    I haven't taken my medicine today.
19. The children have gone to bed.
    The children have gone to sleep.
20. How long have you had that headache?
    How long have you had that headache?
21. We have known each other for a long time.
    We have known each other for a long time.
22. Yo haven't studied for the exam yet.
    I haven't studied for the exam yet.
23. They have traveled around the world.
    They have traveled around the world.
24. We haven't had any problems so far.
    We haven't had any problems so far.
25. Have you found your car keys?
    Have you found your car keys?

Examples of sentences in present perfect continuous

1. Yo have been listening to the radio all morning.
   I've been listening to the radio all morning.
2. that dog have been barking since 2 a.m.
   That dog has been barking since 2 am. m.
3. How long have you been living in New York?
   How long have you been living in New York?
4. They have been seeing each other a lot recently.
   They've been seeing each other a lot lately.
5. Joyce he has been working out a lot.
   Joyce has been training a lot.
6. Yo have been reading a lot about the author.
   I have been reading a lot about the author.
7. you haven't been drinking enough water.
   He hasn't been drinking enough water.
8. WeI've been having issues with this app lately.
   We have been having problems with this app lately.
9. I haveHe's been writing poetry since he was a child.
   He has been writing poetry since he was a child.
10. YoI've been working non-stop since early morning.
    I've been working non-stop since early morning.
11. Mark has been getting to know Jenny.
    Mark has been getting to know Jenny.
12. I haveit's been having Second thoughts about the job offer.
    He has been having second thoughts about the job offer.
13. The students have been trying to solve the problem for an hour.
    The students have been trying to solve the problem for an hour.
14. The girls have been picking up strawberries in the forest.
    The girls have been picking strawberries in the forest.
15. The neighbors have been listening to the same song over and over again.
    The neighbors have been listening to the same song over and over again.
16. Granny she has been knitting by the fire all afternoon.
    Grandma has been knitting by the fire all afternoon.
17. WeI've been watching “Stranger Things” the whole weekend.
    We've been watching "Stranger Things" all weekend.
18. My friends have been staying in cheap hostels since the beginning of the trip.
    My friends have been staying in cheap hostels since the beginning of the trip.
19. How long have you been playing tennis?
    How long have you been playing tennis?
20. WeI've been sunbathing for three hours.
    We have been sunbathing for three hours.
21. my family have been going to the same beach house for over ten years.
    My family has been going to the same beach house for over ten years.
22. Have you been cooking all afternoon?
    Have you been cooking all afternoon?
23. YO'he sees painting my bedroom.
    I have been painting my room.
24. WeI've been using public transportation.
    We have been using public transportation.
25. Mary hasn't been going to the gym lately.
    Mary hasn't been going to the gym recently.

What adverbs are used with the present perfect simple and continuous?

There are adverbs of time and duration that are used with the present perfect simpleand continuousto indicate specific time or duration:

• For. It is used to express a period of time. For example: I have been learning English for a year./ I have been learning English for a year.
• Since. It is used to express the exact beginning of a period of time. For example: I have been learning Englishsince 2022./ I have been learning English since 2022.

There are other adverbs of time and duration that are used with the present perfect simpleand continuousto indicate unspecified time or duration:

• lately(lately). For example: You have been making many mistakes lately. / Her You've been making a lot of mistakes lately.
• Recently (recently). For example: She has changed jobs recently. / She has recently changed jobs.

Follow with:

• «For" and "since" in English
• “past simple" in English
• “past continuous" in English
• “future perfect" in English
• “Future time clauses" in English

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