explanation of present perfect simple and continuous

2.  PRESENT PERFECT is used to express personal
experiences when you don’t say exactly
when they happened.
 The time expressions ever and never are very
often used with this meaning

3.  PRESENT PERFECT is used to describe recent
events without a definite time. The idea of
time or place in the speaker’s mind makes the
event recent.
 A time expression which emphasizes
recentness is just.
They’ve just got
married

4.  PRESENT PERFECT is used to express actions
that started in the past and continue to the
present, the time period is not finished.
 We use for and since with this meaning. We
use for with periods of time and since with
points of time. We use How long? to ask about
the duration of an action.

5.  We use PPC for an activity that has
recently stopped or just stopped.
Normally there are evidences that this
action has been taking place.

6.  We also use it for an activity that is still
happening.

7.  Finally, we use it for actions repeated
over a period of time.
Debbie is a very good tennis player. She’s
been playing since she was eight.
 In this sense we normally use it together
with time expressions such as all day,
lately, recently…

8. When we use PPS, we are
interested in the result and
the fact that the action is
completed.
When we use PPC, we are
interested in the activity
and it’s duration. It doesn’t
matter if it’s finished or not.

9. PP SIMPLE:
 To say how much/many
of something we have
done or how many
times:
I’ve drunk to litres of water
this morning
Lisa has written ten letters
today
They’ve played tennis
three times this week
PP CONTINUOUS:
 To say how long an
action has lasted for:
I have been learning
English for too long

10.  REMEMBER there are some verbs that are
not normally used in the continuous form
(Stative verbs):
I’ve known about it for a long time

11.  When we use verbs “live” and “work”,
both verb forms are possible with the
same meaning:
I’ve lived here all my life
I’ve been living here all my life
How long have you been working here?
How long have you worked here?