Present Perfect versus Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect + for / sincePresent Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect + for and since

Uses1. to talk about something that began in the past and is still true now. Examples: I have taught English for over thirty years. My daughter has lived in Barcelona since 2020. I have known you for two weeks.

Present Perfect + for and since

Uses2. to ask how long for a situation that started in the past until now. Examples: How long have you studied English? How long have you known each other? How long have you been in EOI? We use for and since to connect an action that began in the past and is still true now.

for and since

for expresses how long: I have lived in Altafulla for three months. Three months tells us the length of time.

Other examples with for: a day / a week / two hours / a year / 30 minutes / weeks / ages / ever Since expresses when a situation began: I have lived in Altafulla since August. Other examples with since: Monday / last week / this morning / the summer / March / 28 September

for and since

Present Perfect Continuous: have / has + been + verb + -ing

Uses: 1. We use the present perfect continuous with action verbs + for and since to show actions which started in the past and are still true now. I have been living in Spain for many years. You have been coming to EOI since the end of September. We have been talking in English since 5:15 pm.

Uses: 2. We also use the present perfect continuous for an action which has finished recently, but you can see the present result of that action. A: Oh my goodness. Look at this kitchen! It is in such a mess. B: Sorry mum, I have been cooking. A: You are filthy! What have you been doing? B: I've been trekking in the mountains.

Present Perfect Continuous: have / has + been + verb + -ing

Examples of the present perfect continuous for an action which has finished recently, but you can see the present result of that action. What have they been doing?

Present Perfect Continuous: have / has + been + verb + -ing

Feelings and emotions love, hate, like,... Senses and perceptions appear, be, hear, see, taste, seem, ... Possession / measurement belong, have, own, possess, measure, weigh,... Thoughts and opinions agree, believe, think, guess, recognise, remember, understand

Stative Verbs

Further practice

https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1/present-perfect-simple-present-perfect-continuous/