This document provides instruction on using the present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses in English. It outlines several uses of the present perfect, including for past experiences with no specific time reference, finished actions connected to the present, and expressions like "already" or "yet." It also discusses using the present perfect continuous for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or actions that have just finished but have present results. The key difference between the present perfect and present perfect continuous is that the present perfect emphasizes completion of an action while the continuous emphasizes the continuation of an action.

1. PRESENT PERFECT
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
NEF UI
UNIT 1C

2. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
• PAST EXPERIENCES (no specific time reference)
I’ve been to Australia twice
Have you ever broken your leg?

3. PRESENT PERFECT
HAVE/HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
HAVE/HAS + BEEN + VERB-ING

4. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
• FINISHED ACTIONS (no specific time
reference) CONNECTED WITH THE PRESENT
My sister’s had a baby
Look, I’ve cut my finger

5. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
• WITH ALREADY, JUST, YET
A. Have you finished yet?
B. Yes, I have already finished
C. No, I haven’t finished yet
D. Phew! I have just finished

6. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
• WITH SUPERLATIVES AND THE FIRST/ SECOND/
LAST TIME …
It‘s the best book I’ve ever read
It’s the first time we’ve done this

7. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
• WITH HOW LONG? AND FOR/SINCE WITH
NON-ACTION VERBS TO SAY THAT
SOMETHING STARTED IN THE PAST IS STILL
TRUE NOW
How long have you known her?
I’ve known her since I was a child
She’s had the job for 6 months

8. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
• WHEN WE SAY/ASK HOW MUCH/MANY? WE
HAVE DONE OR HOW OFTEN? WE HAVE DONE
SMTHG UP TO NOW (connection with the
present)
How many of these books have
you read?
She’s been out twice this week

9. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
• WITH HOW LONG? AND FOR/SINCE WITH
ACTION VERBS TO SAY THAT SOMETHING
STARTED IN THE PAST IS STILL HAPPENING
NOW
How long has this been going on?
I’ve been working here for two
months

10. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
• FOR REPEATED ACTIONS THAT STARTED IN THE
PAST AND STILL CONTINUE, ESPECIALLY WITH
A TIME EXPRESSION (RECENTLY, ALL DAY…)
I haven’t been sleeping well
recently
It’s been raining on and off all day

11. USE THE PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
• FOR CONTINUOUS ACTIONS WHICH HAVE
JUST FINISHED BUT HAVE PRESENT RESULTS
A. Take your shoes off. They’re
filthy.
B. Yes, I know. I’ve been working
in the garden

12. PRESENT PERFECT
OR
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS?
• WITH HOW LONG? FOR/SINCE YOU CAN USE
BOTH, BUT PPC FOR SHORTER, MORE
TEMPORARY ACTIONS
We’ve lived/We’ve been living here since 1980
We’ve been living here for two months

13. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
OR
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS?
• THE PPS EMPHASIZES THE COMPLETION OF
AN ACTION. THE PPC THE CONTINUATION OF
AN ACTION.
We’ve painted the kitchen (painting finished)
We’ve been painting the kitchen (painting
probably not finished)