This document discusses the present perfect simple and continuous tenses in English. It provides examples of when to use each form, including for life experiences, actions that began in the past and continue in the present, repeated actions, and actions that have just finished. The present perfect simple emphasizes the result of an action, while the present perfect continuous emphasizes the duration. Stative verbs are generally not used in the continuous form.

1. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS

2. ´News´
There has been an
accident.
The baby has been
born!

3. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
FORM: have / has + past participle
USES:
1. LIFE EXPERIENCES
I’ve been to China
She’s ridden a horse

4. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
2. CONNECTION PAST & PRESENT.
RESULT
I’ve sprained my ankle, as you can see
He’s lost his keys

5. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
3. ALREADY, JUST & YET
They’ve just left
She’s already called her friend
They haven’t finished yet

6. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
4.SUPERLATIVES & “THE FIRST,
SECOND, LAST TIME”, ETC
It’s the best meal I’ve ever had
It’s the first time he’s given a speech

7. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
5.ACTION STARTED IN THE PAST
AND CONTINUES IN THE PRESENT.
HOW LONG / FOR/ SINCE
T´hey´ve worked together for 10
years

8. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
6. HOW LONG / FOR/ SINCE (NON-
ACTION VERBS:be, have, know, like, etc)
I’ve known Maria for 10 years
They’ve had that car since 2007

9. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
7. HOW MUCH / HOW MANY
How many books have you written?
I’ve spent too much money

10. PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
FORM: HAVE / HAS + BEEN + VERB + ING
USES:
1. “HOW LONG / FOR / SINCE”:
ACTION STARTED IN PAST & CONTINUES NOW
(generally with action verbs)
How long have you been feeling like this?
She’s been travelling by bus for 5 years

11. PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
2. REPEATED ACTIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH
TIME EXPRESSIONS LIKE ALL DAY,
RECENTLY, ETC
I have been arguing with my husband lately.
The phone has been ringing all day.

12. PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
3. CONTINUOUS ACTIONS THAT HAVE JUST
FINISHED (WITH RESULT IN THE PRESENT)
He’s been running all day. He’s dead!
A: Look at your hands! They’re so filthy!
B: I know. I’ve been painting the living room

13. Sometimes there is very little difference in
meaning
between present perfect simple and continuous
and
sometimes there IS a difference in meaning
I have read that book about cruise
ships. (and I have finished it!)
I have read that book about cruise
ships. (and I have finished it!)
I have worked at the airport for four years = I
have been working at the airport for four years
I have read that book about cruise ships ( I HAVE finished it!)
I have been reading that book about
cruise ships.
(But I have
NOT finished
it!)
BUT

14. SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS?
With “How long?, For & Since” we can use
both. However, we prefer the continuous
for shorter, temporary actions.
We’ve lived in London since 1980
We’ve been living in London since 1980
We’ve been staying in a hotel for the last
month

16. STATIVE VERBS:
Stative verbs are NOT normally used in continuous tenses b
not describe actions!
Some verbs (such as be, have, imagine, look, see, smell, taste, think) are
stative verbs with one meaning and non-stative verbs with another meaning.
Do you have you plane ticket with you? (state: possession
Are you having lunch at the moment? (action: eating)

17. SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS?
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:
Emphasis on the RESULT of the action
I’ve painted my living room
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:
Emphasis on the DURATION of the
action
I’ve been painting my living room