This document explains the difference between the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous tenses in English. The present perfect simple is used for completed actions, while the present perfect continuous is used for actions that started in the past and are ongoing. It provides examples of sentences using each tense, such as "Sally has read the books" using the simple form to indicate a finished action, while "Jimmy has been reading the books" uses the continuous form to show an ongoing action. Formation of each tense is also outlined.

1. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
vs
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

2. Present Perfect
• Something which has started in the past and is still true, or
happening, at the moment.
• Something which has happened in the past, but when it
happened isn’t important. The action is finished.
Present Perfect
Past Present Future
Liza has seen all of the Star Wars films.

3. Simple or Continuous?
Take a look at the following 2 sentences. In which sentence has
the person probably finished reading? And which action is
probably incomplete?
• Sally has read the Hunger Games books.
• Jimmy has been reading the Hunger Games books.
The first sentence is Present Perfect Simple.
The second sentence is Present Perfect Continuous.

4. More examples:
• Your brother has written three job applications this morning.
= started in the past and is finished now
• It’s been snowing all night. Do you think it it will stop by
tomorrow morning?
= started in the past and is still happening now
• He’s studied French for two years.
= probably finished
• He’s been taking French classes for the past few months.
= probably still going on

5. Present Perfect Simple
• You form the Present Perfect Simple as followed:
+ Have / has + past participle
Peter has finished his meal.
? Have / has + past participle
Have you ever watched the Big Bang Theory on TV?
- Have / has + not + past participle
Mum and dad haven’t cleaned the garage yet.
• You use has for he, she, and it.

6. Present Perfect Continuous
• You form the Present Perfect Continuous as followed:
+ Have / has + been + -ing form
Angie has been working on a project since this morning.
? Have / has + been + -ing form
Have you been playing video games all day?
- Have / has + not + been + -ing form
Mum and dad haven’t been working in the garden today.
• You use has for he, she, and it.

7. Look!
• The following verbs are normally not used in the Continuous
form: love, like, hate, prefer, think, feel, see, hear, want, forget,
and remember.
• The contraction ‘s means has.
He’s been writing a letter = He has been writing a letter.
WRONG: He is been writing.