Present Perfect Simple and Continuous

have / has + past participlePresent Perfect Simple

We use the present perfect simple to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important.

It was the best meal I have ever had

Therefore, you cannot use the present perfect simple with specific time expressions such as:

yesterday one year ago,

last week, when I was a child,

at that moment, that day,

one day, etc.

I have gone to the cinema yesterday.

What would the correct sentence be?

I went to the cinema yesterday.

With specific time expressions

(yesterday, ago, last…) we use the

past simple

You can also use it to describe your experience.

I have been to France.This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.

I have been to France three times.You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.

I have never been to France.

Let’s play!

Snooping around

We can use the Present Perfect Simple with unspecific expressions such as:

ever never

once many times

several times before so far

already yet…

I haven’t read the book yet

WITH YOUR GROUP, WRITE A SENTENCE FOR EACH UNSPECIFIC EXPRESSION

already, ever, for, just, many times, never, since, yet

You can also use the Present Perfect Simple to refer to unfinished actions with verbs not usually used in the

continuous form:know

behave

likelove

hate…

I have known him for many years

(NOT I’ve been knowing him for many years)

You can also use the Present Perfect Simple to refer to unfinished actions with verbs not usually used in the

continuous form:know

behave

likelove

hate…

My sister has had flu for ten days now

This use is common with time expressions like How long…?, for, since, all day

You can also use the Present Perfect Simple to refer to unfinished actions with verbs not usually used in the

continuous form:know

behave

likelove

hate…

My sister has had flu for ten days now

This use is common with time expressions like How long…?, for, since, all day

You can also use the Present Perfect Simple to refer to unfinished actions with verbs not usually used in the

continuous form:know

behave

likelove

hate…

I’ve known her since I was a child.

I know her since I was a child.

Don’t use the present simple or continuous in this situation

Watch out!

We use the Present Perfect Simple to refer to how much / many of something we have done

and how many times, so the emphasis is on the result of the action

I have just drunk two litres of water

have / has + been + (-ing)Present Perfect Continuous

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about something that started in the past, but may still be happening.It focuses more on the continuous action. The emphasis is on the duration of the action.

How long have you been working here?(you still work here)

I’ve been shopping all morning(I’ve just finished)

We use the Present Perfect Continuous for actions still happening now, specially with for / since

Jane started to work in her garden at 8:00 this morning. Now it is 12:00.She has been working in her garden for 4

hours!

Both forms are possible, but … … do they have the same meaning?

• I've lived here all my life• I've been living here all

my life

• How long have you been working here?

• How long have you worked here?

Use both forms for unfinished actions with the verbs LIVE and WORK

Both forms are possible, but … … do they have the same meaning?

• I've been washing the car• I’ve washed the car

The Present Perfect Continuous emphasizes the activity itself and the duration. The activity may not have finished

The Present Perfect Simple emphasizes that the action is completed, and the result.

1. I've written / I've been writing emails all morning

2. I've written / I've been writing seven emails

3. I think the dog’s broken / the dog’s been breaking its leg

4. How long have you lived / have you been living here?

5. How long have you had / have you been having your

cat?

6. We’ve painted / have been painting the house?

7. How many films has he made / has he been making this

year?

8. You look hot! Have you run? Have you been running?

1. I've written / I've been writing emails all morning

2. I've written / I've been writing seven emails

3. I think the dog’s broken / the dog’s been breaking its leg

4. How long have you lived / have you been living here?

5. How long have you had / have you been having your

cat?

6. We’ve painted / have been painting the house?

7. How many films has he made / has he been making this

year?

8. You look hot! Have you run? Have you been running?

I _________ tennis three times this week (play)

I _________ tennis three times this week (play)

Emphasis on the result

‘ve played

Phone Al urgently.She ___________ tospeak to you allmorning (try)

Phone Al urgently.She ___________ tospeak to you allmorning (try)

Emphasis on the duration

‘s been trying

We ___________ allday but we

_________everything we need.

(shop, buy)

We ___________ allday but we

_________everything we need.

(shop, buy)

‘ve been shopping

haven’t bought

The service in thisrestaurant is terrible.We ___________ forhalf an hour. (wait)

The service in thisrestaurant is terrible.We ___________ forhalf an hour. (wait)

‘ve been waiting

A: How long ______ Vicky ________ with Tim? (go out)

B: About two months. Do you like him?A: Yes, I ____________ him four or five

times and he seems OK. (meet)

A: How long ______ Vicky ________ with Tim? (go out)

B: About two months. Do you like him?A: Yes, I ____________ him four or five

times and he seems OK. (meet)

has Vicky been going out

‘ve met

My grandmother ___________ in the same house all her life. (live)

My grandmother ___________ in the same house all her life. (live)

has lived / has been living

Verb LIVE !!!!

A: How long ________ you ________ French?

B: Since Christmas, but I ____________ much. I keep missing classes. (not learn)

have you been learning

haven’t learnt

A: How long ________ you ________ French?

B: Since Christmas, but I ____________ much. I keep missing classes. (not learn)

A: Your hands are filthy! What ________ you _______ ? (do)B: I _______________ the brakes on my

car. They weren't working properly. (repair)

A: Your hands are filthy! What ________ you _______ ? (do)B: I _______________ the brakes on my

car. They weren't working properly. (repair)

have you been doing

have been repairing

They ______________ for months but they _____________ a flat to rent yet.

(look, find)

They ______________ for months but they _____________ a flat to rent yet.

(look, find)

have been looking

haven’t found

My uncle ___________ all over the world and he says that Sri Lanka is the most beautiful place he ________ to.

(travel, be)

My uncle ___________ all over the world and he says that Sri Lanka is the most beautiful place he ________ to.

(travel, be)

has travelled

has been

They _________ each other for years but they ___________ a serious argument.

(know, never have)

They _________ each other for years but they ___________ a serious argument.

(know, never have)

have known

have never had

We ___________ a holiday for ages. We __________ too hard.

(not have, work)

We ___________ a holiday for ages. We __________ too hard.

(not have, work)

haven’t had

have been working

¿Cuál es el mensajeWell done!