Present Perfect — Simple vs Continuous
B1 Upper-Intermediate
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Overview
| Form | Build | Core idea | Typical adverbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Perfect Simple | have/has + past participle | Result up to now finished action with a present result; life experience; how many/times. | just, already, yet, ever, never, before, recently, so far |
| Present Perfect Continuous | have/has + been + -ing | Duration / process action from past until now (possibly still happening) or just finished with visible effect. | for, since, how long, lately, recently, all day/morning |
Both connect the past with the present. The simple highlights what has happened; the continuous highlights how long or the activity itself.
Present Perfect Simple — main uses
- Recent action + result John has broken his leg — he’s in hospital.
- No time given finished actions with present relevance: Sue has left.
- Experience Have you ever flown at night? • I’ve never been to India.
- How many / how much / how often (to date) I’ve seen that film three times.
- Superlative + ever This is the best meal I’ve ever had.
- been vs gone She’s been to Paris (=visited). She’s gone to Paris (=is there now).
Adverb placement: have/has + already/never/ever/just + past participle. Yet is common in negatives and questions (usually at the end).
Present Perfect Continuous — main uses
- Past → now (ongoing) She’s been studying very hard for weeks.
- Just finished, evidence now Have you been crying? • I’ve been painting; that’s why I’m dirty.
- Repeated activity up to now She’s been calling you for days.
- Temporary situations around now We’ve been staying with friends this month.
Use with dynamic verbs. Stative verbs (e.g. know, believe, love, need, own, be, have for possession) normally take the simple: We’ve known each other for years.
Since vs for (both tenses)
| Use | Since | For |
|---|---|---|
| Point vs period | start point: since 2019 / since Monday / since 8 a.m. | duration: for two years / for a week / for hours |
| Examples | We’ve lived here since 2019. | We’ve been living here for five years. |
Simple or Continuous?
| Want to emphasise… | Choose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Result / completion | Simple | Look — I’ve washed the car. |
| Activity / duration / irritation | Continuous | I’ve been washing the car, so I’m wet. |
| How many / times | Simple | I’ve sent three emails today. |
| How long | Continuous (or simple with statives) | How long have you been playing golf? / We’ve had this car for years. |
| Finished vs unfinished situation | Simple = finished; Continuous = not necessarily finished | Who has eaten my cookies? (none left) • Who has been eating my cookies? (some left) |
Time windows that link to “now”
- Today / this week / this month / so far → period not finished: I haven’t seen Kate this week.
- Just / already / yet (simple): He’s just called. • Have you finished yet?
- Lately / recently (often continuous for repeated activity): I haven’t been sleeping well lately.
BrE commonly uses the present perfect with just/already/yet. AmE may also use the past simple (He just called).
Contrasted pairs
- I’ve watched the series you recommended. (finished) ↔ I’ve been watching the series you recommended. (ongoing/around now)
- We’ve known each other since school. (stative) ↔ I’ve been working all day. (dynamic, duration)
- She has left. (not here now) ↔ She’s been calling all morning. (repeated action)
Quick reference: negatives & questions
| Negative | Yes/No question | Wh- question |
|---|---|---|
| haven’t / hasn’t + past participle • She hasn’t called yet. |
Have/Has + subject + past participle? • Have you finished? |
How many times have you…? • How long have you been…? |
| haven’t / hasn’t been + -ing • He hasn’t been sleeping well. |
Have/Has + subject + been + -ing? • Has she been studying? |
Why have you been…? • Since when have they been…? |
Common pitfalls to avoid
- ❌ Using the past simple with an unfinished period: I saw him this week → ✔ I’ve seen him this week (if the week isn’t over).
- ❌ Continuous with stative verbs: I’ve been knowing her for years → ✔ I’ve known her…
- ❌ Wrong adverb placement: I have finished already → ✔ I have already finished.
- ❌ Confusing been and gone: She’s gone to Rome (=still there) vs She’s been to Rome (=at some time).
Exercises:
Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous
Choose the correct option, present perfect simple or present perfect continuous, to complete the dialogue. If both forms are possible, use the present perfect continuous.
1
A:
the dog for a walk yet?
2
B: No, I haven’t. I
emails all day.
3
I
home and
4
the time to take him out yet.
5
A: So how long
home alone?
6
B: Since eight. You
him only once this week.
7
A: I’d love to, but I
on the quarterly report all afternoon.
8
I
the slides either.
9
B: OK, I’ll go.
the lead and the harness?
10
A: They’re in the hall. By the way,
anything for dinner yet?
Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous
Choose the correct option, present perfect simple or present perfect continuous, for the following sentences. If both forms are possible, use the present perfect continuous.
1
Sorry about the mess — I ____ in the kitchen all afternoon.
A.
B.
C.
2
She ____ three novels so far.
A.
B.
C.
3
My eyes are sore because I ____ at the screen since 9 a.m.
A.
B.
C.
4
How long ____ in this apartment?
A.
B.
C.
5
Oh no — I ____ my phone! Can you call it?
A.
B.
C.
6
She looks upset. She ____ to her boss.
A.
B.
C.
7
We ____ the report, so you can send it now.
A.
B.
C.
8
Why are your hands dirty? — I ____ the bike.
A.
B.
C.
9
He ____ English for ten years, and he still loves it.
A.
B.
C.
10
They ____ any news yet.
A.
B.
C.
Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous
Fill in the gaps with the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous of the verbs in brackets. If both forms are possible, use the present perfect continuous.
1
We Dave and Julia for years. (know)
2
You look tired. well recently? (you/sleep)
3
Rose her homework, so she can’t go out. (not do)
4
Don’t bother knocking at the door. They . (move)
5
The phone bill is enormous. How many times your boyfriend in Australia? (you/call)
6
I time to make lunch. Shall we go to a restaurant? (not have)
7
We for so long! Do you think we’re lost? (walk)
8
my biscuits? There aren’t many left. (you/eat)
9
Someone all my biscuits! (eat)
10
I (write) all morning, but I
(only/write) 9 pages so far.