The Present Perfect Simple is used to show an action that is finished and focuses on the result. It is used to talk about experiences or changes over an unspecified period of time. The Present Perfect Continuous emphasizes the continuation of an action and focuses on the duration of the activity. It is used to talk about activities that are ongoing or have just finished recently. The two tenses differ in that the Present Perfect Simple focuses on the result of an action while the Present Perfect Continuous focuses on the duration of an ongoing or just completed action.

1. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
VS
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

2. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
• SHOWS THAT SOMETHING IS FINISHED.
Marge HAS just GONE shopping.

3. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
• FOCUSES ON THE RESULTS OF THE ACTION.
Barney HAS DRUNK ten glasses of beer so far.

4. We often use the PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE to talk about:
• HOW MUCH someone has done.
Lisa HAS READ A LOT about History.
• HOW MANY TIMES someone has done something.
Scratchy HAS HIT Itchy TWICE.
HOW MANY THINGS someone has done.
Grampa HAS LOST THREE DENTURES.

5. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
TYPICAL TIME EXPRESSIONS:
• for • ever
• since • never
• already • always
• yet • so far
• just • lately / recently

6. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE ACTIVITY IN ITSELF.
IT DOESN’T MATTER IF THIS ONE HAS FINISHED OR
NOT.
•Bart’s clothes are covered with paint.
He HAS BEEN PAINTING on the wall.

7. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
FOCUSES IN THE CONTINUATION OF AN
ACTION.
•They HAVE BEEN RUNNING all over the school
(They’re still running)

8. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
EMPHASIZES ON THE TIME THAT AN ACTION TAKES.
They HAVE BEEN LAUGHING at Moe all morning.

9. We often use the PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS to talk about:
• HOW LONG something has been happening.
Moe HAS BEEN CLEANING FOR TWO HOURS.

10. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
TYPICAL TIME EXPRESSIONS:
• for
• since
• how long…?
• lately / recently
• all morning / day /
week, etc.