PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE VS. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
We use the
present perfect tense to talk about things where there is a connection between
the past and the present.
•
He’s written 16 books.
He started
writing books at some time in the past. So far, he has written 16 books. He may
write more books.
As
well as the present perfect simple, we can use the present
perfect continuous tense to talk about events with a connection to the
present.
1 Look at these 2 sentences:
•
I’ve been decorating the house this summer. The focus is on the action – decorating –
and the action is unfinished.
•
I’ve painted the living room blue. The focus is on the finished result. The
activity is finished but we can see the result now.
We use
the present perfect continuous when the focus is on an
activity that is unfinished.
2 Look at these two sentences.
•
I’ve read that book you lent me.
I finished it yesterday.
•
I’ve been reading that book you lent me. I’ve got another 50 pages to read.
The present
perfect simple (I’ve read) gives the idea of completion while
the present perfect continuous (I’ve been reading)
suggests that something is unfinished.
3 Look at these two sentences.
•
She’s been writing emails for 3 hours.
•
She’s written 10 messages.
The present
perfect continuous (has been writing) talks about how long
something has been happening. The present perfect simple (has
written) talks about how much/how many have been completed.
4 Look at these two
sentences.
•
I’ve worked here for thirty years.
•
I usually work in London but I’ve been working in Birmingham for the last 3
weeks.
We can use the present
perfect simple to talk about how long when we view something as
permanent. But the present perfect continuous is often used to
show that something is temporary.
