Present Perfect & Continuous

Present Perfect Simple & Continuous Tenses

By Erika Espejo Regalado

The Present Perfect Tense is the first of the advanced tenses because of the grammar and the way we think about time when using it. You'll learn what the present perfect tense is and how it's used.

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Uses & structure

Examples &xercises

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Time Adverbs

Examples

Structure

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Exercises

Uses

Uses

The Present Perfect is used to talk about an action in the past that has an effect on the present. I have finished the report and given it to my boss. Action in the past: finish the report, give it to my boss Effect on the present: the report is on my boss's desk. Never use the present perfect to talk about an event in the past with a time expression. We use it to talk about indefinite time.

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Uses of the Present Perfect Tense

To talk about past actions when the time includes the present.

To talk about actions which started in the past and are continuing now.

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To ask someone about general experiences in their life, we can use ever.

Structure

Affirmative: subject + have/has + past participle + complement I have ordered some more office paper. He has sent the invoice to the wrong person Negative: subject + have/has not + past part + C We have not received your payment. She hasn't been to Nepal. Question: Q Word or phrase + have/has + subject + past particple + C Have you contacted the suppliers? Why has he gone to Canada?

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Full & Contracted form

I/you/they/we have + pp

he/she/it has + pp

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I've, you've, they've we've + pp

he's, she's, it's + pp

he's = he is

he's = he has

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He's is the contracted form of he has. You have to see what word comes after it, if it's a past participle, then it's has. If it's not, then it's not. For example: He's been here before. He's left town.

He's is the contracted form of he is. For example: He's very tall. He's scared of telling her.

Time adverbs used in the Present Perfect Tense

Already is used in affirmative or question form to show that an action happened earlier than expected. It goes after have or has and can also go at the end of the sentence.

Ever is used to talk about first time experiences. It can also be used in negative sentences to mean in no time.

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Never is used in negative sentences and means not in any time. It goes after has or have.

Time adverbs used in the Present Perfect Tense

Still is used in negative sentences and it shows that an action that has lasted longer than expected. It goes after the subject.

Just is used to show a time or situation that has finished only a short time before now. It goes after have or has.

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Yet is similar to still. It is frequently used in negative sentences and shows an action that has lasted longer than expected. It can go at the end.

for

since

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The Present Perfect can be used with the preposition for to talk about time. It's used to show the length or duration of an action or situation. It's used for periods of time She has lived here for 5 years.

It can also be used with the preposition since, which signals when the action or situation began. It's used for specific times. She has lived here since 2015.

Present perfect continuous

Present perfect continuous is used for an action that began in the past and is continuing now and the emphasis is on the length of the continuing action. Diego has been studying English since May.

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Present perfect continuous

However, you CANNOT use it with stative verbs, such as love, like, seem and understand. When using stative verbs you can use the present perfect simple tense. He has loved her a lot. They have liked each other since the first day they met. I've known my husband since I was 19. She's been here for a while.

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Uses

It is used for continuous activities that started in the past and are still going on now. How long have you been learning accounting? I've been learning it since I started my major. It is also used to talk about temporary or unfinished activities. I've been staying home this week. I've been talking about my problems with the therapist. It is used to talk about recent activities that are not finished if there is some evidence of the recent activity.

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Present Perfect Continuous Structure

INTERROGATIVEHave/Has + Subj + been + past participle + C ?

AFFIRMATIVEsubject + has/have + been + past participle of the main verb + C

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NEGATIVE subject + has/have NOT + been + past participle of the main verb + C

p. perf. simple

p. perf. cont.

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1. Focuses on the activity.
2. Says "how long."
3. Describes an activity which may continue.
4. When we can see the evidence of recent activity.

1. Focuses on the result.
2. Says "how many."
3. Describes a complete action.

P. perf. simple

P. perf. cont.

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I've been taking Latin classes. They've been studying all day.

I've been to New York twice. Our family has just arrived. I've always hated celery.

Both

There are some verbs like live, study and work that can go in either tense with the same meaning. For example: I've lived here since 1998. I've been living here since 1998. He's studied English since 2023. He's been studying English since 2023. She's worked there since 2015. She's been working there since 2015.

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Difference

Both tenses are very simlilar. There are sentences where we can use the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous. The focus in the continuous form is on the course of the action. It has rained since Monday. → (It has rained - at least once or now and then.) It has been raining since Monday. → (It has been raining every day since Monday.)

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Thanks People!

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