WHAT’S THE
DIFFERENCE?
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
We use both of
these tenses for finished and unfinished actions.
The present perfect simple can be used (often with
‘since’ and ‘for’) to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past
and are still true in the present. It’s often used with stative verbs:
• I’ve
known John for three years.
The present perfect continuous can
also be used (often with ‘since’ and ‘for’) to talk about unfinished actions
that started in the past and are still true in the present. (Of course, we
don’t use the present perfect continuous with stative verbs):
•
She’s been living here for three years.
Sometimes there’s really no difference in meaning
between the two tenses. This is especially the case with verbs such as ‘live’,
‘work’ and ‘study’:
●
They’ve lived in London since 2004.
●
They’ve been living in London since 2004.
●
I’ve studied French for ten years.
●
I’ve been studying French for ten years.
●
He’s worked at the company since 2009.
●
He’s been working at our company since 2009.
Sometimes,
there is a difference in meaning:
1: The present perfect continuous can be used to
emphasise the length of time that has passed. The present perfect simple is
generally neutral:
●
They’ve been waiting for hours! (This emphasises the length of time).
●
They’ve waited for hours. (This doesn’t emphasise the length of time).
2: On the other hand, the present perfect
simple is often used when we’re talking about how much or how many. This isn’t
possible with the present perfect continuous:
●
She’s drunk three cups of coffee this morning.
●
She’s drunk at
least a litre of coffee today.
●
(NOT: she’s
been drinking three cups of coffee this morning.).
3: The present perfect continuous often focuses on the
action itself, while the present perfect simple focuses on the fact that the
action is completed:
• I’ve been reading the book you recommended. (I’m enjoying it, but I’m not finished).
•
I’ve read the book you recommended. (I’ve finished it, so we can talk about it).
We use ‘yet’
and ‘already’ with the present perfect simple:
●
Have you read the book yet?
●
She’s finished her work already.
This difference is often used to talk about different
kinds of results in the present. The present perfect simple is used when the
action is finished, and the result comes from the action being finished:
●
I’ve eaten dinner, so let’s go out.
●
She’s done all her homework, so she can relax
this evening.
●
I’ve made a cake. Would you like some?
The present perfect continuous is
used when the result comes from the action itself. It doesn’t matter if the
whole action is finished or not. The result is often something we can see,
hear, smell, or feel:
●
I’ve been eating dinner, so there are plates
all over the table.
●
She’s been doing her homework, so she’s tired.
●
I’ve been making a cake, that’s why the
kitchen is such a mess.
4: Finally. the present perfect continuous can be used
to emphasise that something is temporary:
● She’s
been running a lot recently. (She doesn’t usually do this).
●
Usually I study at home, but
I’ve been studying in the library for the last week.
➤➤Exercise 13. Present
Perfect Simple or Present Perfect
Continuous
1.
_ (they / arrive)
already?
2.
Lucy (run)
2000 metres today.
3.
I (clean)
all morning – I’m fed up!
4.
How long
(you / know) Simon?
5.
I (drink)
more water lately, and I feel better.
6.
Sorry about the mess! I (bake).
7.
How many times (you
/ take) this exam?
8.
He _
(eat) six bars of chocolate today!
9.
Julie (cook)
dinner. Let’s go and eat!
10. The students
11. The
baby’s face is really dirty! What
(finish) their exams. They’re very
happy.
(he / eat)?
12. Iona is
exhausted these days. She (work)
too hard recently.
13. Luke
(never / be) abroad.
14. I (wait) for three hours already ! 15. (you
/ finish) your homework yet? 16.How long
(you / be) a lawyer?
14.
I (read)
your book all day. It’s very interesting, but
I’m only on chapter 2.
15.
She (drink)
ten glasses of water!
16.
I (have)
my dog for sixteen years.
17.
Help, I (lose)
my wallet! How can I get home?
➤➤Exercise 14. Present
Perfect Simple or Present Perfect
Continuous
1.
I (not
/ do) the housework yet.
2.
They (study)
very hard recently.
3.
She (promise)
to help many times.
4.
He _
(clean) the kitchen. Everything is sparkling
clean.
5. She _ (write)
her essay and _ (send) it to her professor.
6. He (see) the film ‘The King’s Speech’ about
six times.
7.
We (paint)
our living room. I think it looks a lot better.
8.
She (take)
French lessons lately.
9. It (not / rain)
for three hours! Only about one hour. 10.Lucy (already / leave).
11. How many times
(you / visit) Scotland?
12. I (call)
John for hours and hours and he hasn’t answered. I’m really angry with him!
13. I (be) in London
for three years. 14.We (know) James for ages.
15.It’s
really smelly in here. (somebody / smoke)? 16.How much petrol (she
/ buy)?
17. She (eat) chocolate all morning, so she feels sick.
18. I (paint) my
house all day, but it’s not finished yet. 19.Julie (be) at the office
since 6 am.
20.The writer
_ (deserve) this award
for a long time.
➤➤Exercise 15. Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect
Continuous
1.
(you / buy) your train ticket yet?
2.
The kitchen is a complete mess! What
(the children / do)?
3.
Julie (learn)
to drive for six years!
4.
Amanda (already
/ have) lunch, so she’ll meet us later.
5.
How much
coffee _ (she / drink) this morning?
6.
Simon _
(write) three books.
7.
I (do)
everything I needed to do today! Hurray!
8.
It (not
/ rain) all summer, so the garden is dead.
9. I (read) your
book. Here it is, thank you. 10.She _ (forget) how to get to my house.
11.I
(work) in the garden all day and I
need a rest. 12.She (make)
three cakes. They look delicious! 13.David feels great these days.
He (get) up early lately. 14.We (always / hate) rush hour traffic.
15.Recently,
I _ (study) a lot. My exams are in
a few weeks. 16.We (write) this
book for months and months.
17.I (always
/ love) chocolate.
18.I
(want) to go back to university for a
long time. 19.What’s that delicious smell? (you
/ cook)?
20.I (watch)
seven films this week!
