Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous

Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous

• Do you know if Peter has called?

• My manager won’t be pleased because I still haven’t finished the report.

• Have you sent that email yet?

• We’re really tired. We’ve been driving since 4 o'clock this morning.

• How long have you been studying English?

• The bus hasn't come. I've been waiting here for ages.

We form the present perfect simple with have + past participle.

• I’ve never been to Africa.

For more information on forms of the present perfect (simple), see Present perfect simple: positive.

We form the present perfect continuous with have + been + -ing form.

• It’s been raining since ten o’clock this morning.

For more information on forms of the present perfect continuous, see Present perfect continuous.

We use the present perfect to connect the past and the present.

• The cafe has just opened. (= It is open now.)

• People have been arriving in large numbers. (= They are still arriving now.)

We can often use either the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous with since or for when something started in the past and continues now, or is repeated up to now.

• We’ve lived/’ve been living here for about a year now.

• I’ve listened/been listening to the new album a lot since I downloaded it.

Present perfect simple vs present perfect continuousWe use the present perfect simple to focus on the result of an action, and we use the present perfect continuous to focus on the doing of the action itself.

• I've been practising this piece for weeks but still haven't learned it.

We use the present perfect simple to talk about how much or how many. When we focus on how long something has taken, we use the present perfect continuous.

• I've done three tests this term.

• We've seen that show three times.

• I've been working on this project for a month now. I need to finish it by the end of the week.

We use the present perfect simple to talk about how many times something has happened. But we use the present perfect continuous for repeated actions when we don't say specifically how many times they have happened. We often use phrases such as all day and recently in these sentences.

• We've seen that show three times.

• I've been trying to contact him all morning.

We usually use the present perfect simple, not the present perfect continuous, to talk about states rather than actions with verbs like be, have, know, seem.

• We’ve known each other since university.We've been knowing each other since university.

• She’s had that laptop for over ten years!She's been having that laptop for over ten years!

We often use the present perfect simple, not the present perfect continuous, to announce news for the first time.

• Have you heard? Tom’s lost his job.

• The Prime Minister has resigned.

• https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/grammar/online-grammar/present-perfect-simple-and-present-perfect-continuous

Present Perfect Continuous HAVE + BEEN+V-ing

Word-expressions: all day/night, how long, since, for

I have been waiting for two hours here.

She has been doing her homework the whole morning.

Present Perfect HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

Word-expressions: for, since, never, ever, already, just, yet

I have done my homework for today.

He has passed his exam.

Past Simple V-ed/IRREGULAR VERBS

Word-expressions: yesterday, two days ago, last day/week/month/year, in 1996

I watched the English movie yesterday.

They had meeting two days ago.

Fill in the correct form of the verb given: Present Perfect Simple or Continuous

1. We _________________________ this film before, so there's no need to watch it again. (SEE)

2. I ____________________________ for you all morning. - Where _________________________? (WAIT, YOU BE)

3. The bank is still closed. It ________________________ yet. (NOT OPEN)

4. Our daughter ___________________________ lipstick since she was 16 (WEAR).

5. It _________________________ all day. It seems as if it will never stop. (RAIN)

6. We _________________________ through the accounts since Monday, but we _________________________ any irregularities yet. (LOOK, NOT FIND)

7. Someone _________________________ my computer. The battery is dead. (USE)

8. _________________________________ your problems? (YOUR PARENTS ALWAYS UNDERSTAND)

9. Simon ___________________ three books. (WRITE)

10. I ___________________ everything I needed to do today! Hurray! (DO)

11. It ___________________ all summer, so the garden is dead. (NOT RAIN)

12. What's that delicious smell? ___________________ ? (YOU COOK)