PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE vs. 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. 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 emphasize the result. We use the Present Perfect Continuous to emphasize the duration or continuous course of an action.

Result or duration?

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous

Result (what / how much / how often)

I have written 5 letters. / I have been to

London twice.

Duration (how long)

I have been writing for an hour/ I have been traveling to

London since 2010.

Emphasis on completion or duration?

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous

Emphasis on completion

I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.)

Emphasis on duration

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.)

Result or side effect?

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous

desired resultI have washed the car. (Result: The car is clean now)

unwanted side effectWhy 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.)

Last time or beginning of an action?

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive

since the last time

I haven't played that game for

years. (Meaning: It's years ago that I last

played that game.)

since the beginning

I haven't been playing that game for an hour, only for 10

minutes. (Meaning: It's not even an hour ago that I started

to play that game.)

Permanent or temporary?

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous

Permanent

James has lived in this town for 10

years. (Meaning: He is a permanent resident of

this town.)

Temporary

James has been living here for a year. (Meaning: This

situation is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange

student)

Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous?

Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous).

1. We (travel)…………………………………………around Scotland for 8 days.

2. Bob (run) …………………………………………10 km.

3. He (speak / not) …………………………………………on the phone for half an hour, just a couple of

minutes.

4. They (work / not) ………………………………………… since 5 o'clock. They just started an hour ago.

5. (stay / you / ever) ………………………………………… in a castle?

6. The children (be) …………………………………………on holiday for six days.

7. How long (wait / she) ………………………………………… for us?

8. The dog (bark) …………………………………………since midnight.

9. We (know / not) …………………………………………them for a long time.

10. How often (clean / you) ………………………………………… the windows this year?

11. We (miss) ………………………………………… the bus twice this week.

12. You (eat / not) …………………………………………up yet.

13. How many times (tell / I) …………………………………………you?

14. She (hang / not) …………………………………………up all the pictures yet.

15. How many months (take / you) ………………………………………… piano lessons?

Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous).

Daughter: Mum, Jane (phone / just) to ask if I will go to the cinema with her. May I?

Mother: (you / do) your homework yet?

Daughter: Well, I (do) it for about 2 hours now, but I (finish / not) it yet.

Mother: If you (complete / not) your homework, you cannot go. School comes first.

Remember, you (promise) me to study harder this year.

Daughter: But mum, I (work) really hard this year and I (improve / already) in

Maths and Chemistry.

Mother: But that's only because I (push / always) you to do something.

Daughter: But I also need a break some time. Look, I (be / not) to the cinema for two

months. May I go? Just this once.