Lesson focus

Duration, repetition, temporary activity, visible results and the contrast between perfect simple and perfect continuous

Advanced aim: Choose perfect simple or continuous according to achieved result, duration, repetition, temporariness and lexical aspect; several contexts allow both with a change of focus.

Duration up to now

Use the present perfect continuous to emphasise how long an activity has been continuing.

• Example: We have been reviewing the contract for nearly three hours.
• In another context: We have been reviewing the lease for nearly four hours.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Visible recent activity

Use the perfect continuous when recent activity explains a present result or visible evidence.

• Example: You've been painting; there is blue paint on your sleeve.
• In another context: You've been painting; there is wood stain on your cuff.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Completed quantity

Use the perfect simple when the focus is on a completed quantity or number of achievements.

• Example: The analyst has written six reports this quarter.
• In another context: The data reviewer has written four audit reports this quarter.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Activity rather than product

Use the perfect continuous when the focus is on the activity or process rather than a completed product.

• Example: The analyst has been writing the report all morning.
• In another context: The policy researcher has been writing the assessment all morning.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Stative verb restriction

Stative meanings such as know and own generally favour the perfect simple. Dynamic senses of some traditionally 'stative' verbs can allow continuous forms.

• Example: I have known Elena since university.
• In another context: I have known Marta since university.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Repeated recent events

The perfect continuous can emphasise repeated activity over a recent period.

• Example: Customers have been reporting the same error all week.
• In another context: Applicants have been reporting the same error all week.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Long-term ongoing process

Use the perfect continuous to highlight an ongoing process that began in the past and is still developing.

• Example: Researchers have been tracking the changes for more than a decade.
• In another context: Researchers have been tracking the changes for a full decade.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Result vs duration

Both perfect simple and perfect continuous may be grammatical. Choose the simple to foreground an achieved result/quantity and the continuous to foreground duration, repetition or effort.

• Example: We have solved three major issues since Monday.
• In another context: We have solved five priority defects since Tuesday.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Temporary pattern

The perfect continuous often suggests a temporary pattern rather than a permanent state.

• Example: I have been working from the regional office while our building is renovated.
• In another context: I have been working from the satellite branch while our building is renovated.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Past perfect continuous cause

Use the past perfect continuous when an earlier ongoing activity explains a later past result.

• Example: The road was slippery because it had been raining all night.
• In another context: The coastal highway was slippery because it had been raining all night.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.