The document provides information about the present perfect tense and present perfect continuous tense in English. It defines their uses, including unspecified time before now, experience, change over time, accomplishments, uncompleted actions, and duration from the past until now. It also compares their uses to the simple past tense and present continuous tense. Examples are provided to illustrate the different uses.

1. Present Perfect Tense
[Subject + has/have + past participle]
Examples:
You have seen that movie many times.
Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.
Complete List of Present Perfect Forms
USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified
time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present
Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week,
when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We
CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once,
many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.
Examples:
I have seen that movie twenty times.
I think I have met him once before.
There have been many earthquakes in California.
People have traveled to the Moon.
People have not traveled to Mars.
Have you read the book yet?
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.
How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect?
 Expressing experience
You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I
have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a
certain experience.
Examples:
I have been to France.
This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you
have been there once, or several times.

2. I have been to France three times.
You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.
I have never been to France.
This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.
I think I have seen that movie before.
He has never traveled by train.
Joan has studied two foreign languages.
A: Have you ever met him?
B: No, I have not met him.
 Expressing change Over Time
We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a
period of time.
Examples:
You have grown since the last time I saw you.
The government has become more interested in arts education.
Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the
Asian studies program was established.
My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.
 Expressing accomplishments
We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and
humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.
Examples:
Man has walked on the Moon.
Our son has learned how to read.
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
Scientists have split the atom.
‘Thomas is an author. He writes mystery novels and travel memoirs. He has been
writing since he was twenty-eight. Altogether, he has written seven novels, three
collections of short stories and a book of poetry’.
 Expressing An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting
We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not
happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to
happen.
Examples:
James has not finished his homework yet.
Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
Bill has still not arrived.
The rain hasn't stopped.

3. Duration From the Past Until Now
Examples:
I have had a cold for two weeks.
She has been in England for six months.
Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.
I have had this same pair of shoes for three years.
I have liked cowboy movies since I was a child.
The examples above show that something started in the past and has continued up until
now. It is only for Non-Continuous Verbs. Notice the difference between since and for.
Since + a particular time (used to answer the question ‘when’)
For + a duration of time (used to answer the question ‘how long’)
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only,
never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
You have only seen that movie one time.
Have you only seen that movie one time?

4. Present Perfect VS Simple Past
1. I (attend, not) _______________ any parties since I came here.
2. Albert (go) _______________ to a party at Sally’s apartment last Saturday night.
3. Bill (arrive) _______________ here three days ago.
4. Bill (be) _______________ here since the 22nd.
5. Try not to absent from class again for the rest of the term. You (miss, already)
_______________ too many classes. You (miss) _______________ two classes just
last week.
6. So far this week, I (have) _______________ two tests and a quiz.
7. Alex is an artist. He (draw) _______________ many beautiful pictures in his
lifetime. Last week, he (draw) _______________ a beautiful mountain scene.
8. A: I (be, not) _______________ able to reach Mr. Chang yet. So far he (respond,
not) _______________ to any of my attempts to reach him.
B: Oh?
A: I (start) _______________ trying to reach him three days ago. Since then, I (fax)
_______________him twice. I (phone) _______________him four times. And I
(send) _______________ at least six e-mails.
B: I guess modern communication doesn’t mean much if there is no one at the
other end.
9. A: Is Ahmed here yet?
B: Yes, he (arrive, just) _______________
10. Jack really needs to get in touch with you. Since this morning, he (call)
_______________ here four times trying to reach you. He (call)
_______________ at 9:10, 10:25, 12:15, 1:45.

5. Present Perfect Continuous
(Subject + has/have + been + present participle)
Examples:
You have been waiting here for two hours.
Have you been waiting here for two hours?
You have not been waiting here for two hours.
Complete List of Present Perfect Continuous Forms
 USE 1Duration from the Past until Now
We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in
the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks,"
and "since Tuesday" are all durations that can be used with the Present Perfect
Continuous.
Examples:
They have been talking for the last hour.
She has been working at that company for three years.
What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
James has been teaching at the university since June.
We have been waiting here for over two hours!
Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?
 USE 2 Recently, Lately
You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such
as "for two weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning
of "lately." We often use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this
meaning.
Examples:
Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

6. She has been watching too much television lately.
Have you been exercising lately?
Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
Lisa has not been practicing her English.
What have you been doing?
 REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in
any continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Perfect Continuous with these
verbs, you must use Present Perfect.
Examples:
Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct
Sam has had his car for two years. Correct
 ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
You have only been waiting here for one hour.
Have you only been waiting here for one hour?
Special words: (live, work, teach)
There is no difference in the meaning between Present Perfect Tense and
Present Perfect Continuous Tense when those words are constructed using the
word since and for.
Example:
I have lived here since 1995. / I have been living here since 1995.
He has worked at the same store for ten years. / He has been working at the
same store for ten years.

7. Mr. William has taught in LPAI since 2005. / Mr. William has been teaching in
LPAI since 2005.
Present Continuous / Present Perfect Continuous
Mr. Smith: “So tell me a little bit about yourself, Mr. Harris. I would like to find out
a little bit more about your background”.
Mr. Harris: “I (work) _________________ in the insurance industry for over ten
years. I worked for Met Life for six years and World Insurance for four and a half.
During that time, I heard many good things about Hollings Life Insurance and
that's why I (apply) _________________for the new sales position”.
Mr. Smith: “Tell me a little about your hobbies and interests”.
Mr. Harris: “In my spare time, I hike in the mountains outside of town, volunteer at
the Sierra Club and play tennis. In fact, I (compete) _________________in a tennis
tournament this weekend”.
Mr. Smith: “Really, how long (you, play) _________________tennis?”
Mr. Harris: “I (play) _________________since high school. I love the sport”.
Mr. Smith: “Great! We like dedication here at Hollings Life. You mentioned you
volunteer at the Sierra Club. I (work, currently) _________________with them on
the sea turtle project. We (try) _________________to create a wildlife sanctuary
near the bay”.
Mr. Harris: “Do you know Frank Harris? He's my brother. He (work,
presently)_________________ on the same project”.
Mr. Smith: “I know Frank quite well. Any brother of Frank's would be a welcome
addition to Hollings Life. Just one more thing, we (look) _________________ for
somebody who is fluent in Spanish; many of our clients are from Mexico”.
Mr. Harris: “No problem. I (study) _________________Spanish since elementary
school”.
Mr. Smith: “Sounds like you are the perfect candidate”.

8. Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous
1. It (snow) _________________ all day. I wonder when it will stop.
2. We (have) _________________ three major snowstorms so far this winter. I
wonder how many more we will have.
3. A: (you, be) _________________ able to reach Bob on the phone yet?
B: Not yet. I (try) _________________ for the last twenty minutes, but all I
get is a busy signal.
4. A: Hi, Jenny. I (see, not) _________________ you for weeks. What (you, do)
_________________ lately?
B: Studying.
5. A: Dr. Jones is a good teacher. How long (be, he) _________________at the
university?
B: He (teach) _________________ here for twenty-five years.
Complete the following sentences using Present Perfect Continuous Tense.
Do as the example given!
Example:
The baby is crying. She has been crying for almost ten minutes.
1. It is raining. It ………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. I am studying. I ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3. I am waiting for my friend. I ………………………………………………………..........................
4. Bob is sitting in the waiting room. He ………………………………………………………………..
5. My sister is writing a letter in her room. She
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. Present Continuous / Present Perfect Continuous
1. It (rain) _________________all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want
to go to the beach.
2. Sid: Where is Gary?
Sarah: He (study, at the library) _________________for his German tests on
Wednesday. In fact, he (review)_________________ for the test every day for
the last week.
3. You look really great! (You, exercise) _________________ at the fitness center?
4. Frank, where have you been? We (wait) _________________ for you since 1 PM.
5. Tim: What is that sound?
Nancy: A car alarm (ring) _________________ somewhere down the street. It
(drive) _________________ me crazy - I wish it would stop! It (ring)
_________________ for more than twenty minutes.
6. Joseph's English (improve, really) _________________, isn't it? He (watch)
_________________ American television programs and (study)
_________________ his grammar every day since he first arrived in San Diego.
Soon he will be totally fluent.
7. Dan: You look a little tired. (You, get) _________________ enough sleep lately?
Michelle: Yes, I (sleep) _________________ relatively well. I just look tired
because I (feel) _________________ a little sick for the last week.
Dan: I hope you feel better soon.
Michelle: Thanks. I (take, currently) _________________ some medicine, so I
should feel better in a couple of days