Form
Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
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irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs
regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed
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form of 'have' + been + verb + ing
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Exceptions | |
Exceptions when adding 'ed' :
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Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
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See also explanations on Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Progressive
Use
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasise the duration or continuous course of an action.
Result or duration?
Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?
Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
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Result (what / how much / how often)
I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London twice. |
Duration (how long)
I have been writing for an hour. |
Certain verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form).
- state: be, have (for possession only)
Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.
- senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He has touched the painting.
- brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I have known him for 3 years.
Emphasis on completion or duration?
Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent his time)?
Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
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Emphasis on completion
I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.) |
Emphasis on duration
I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's how I have spent my time. It does not matter whether the homework is completed now.) |
Result or side effect?
Do you want to express that a completed action led to a desired result or that the action had an unwanted side effect?
Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
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desired result
I have washed the car. (Result: The car is clean now.) |
unwanted side effect
Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.) |
Time + negation: last time or beginning of an action?
In negative sentences: Do you want to express how much time has past since the last time the action took place or since the beginning of the action?
Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
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since the last time I haven't played that game for years. (Meaning: It's years ago that I last played that game.) |
since the beginning I haven't been playing that game for an hour, only for 10 minutes. (Meaning: It's not even an hour ago that I started to play that game.) |
Permanent or temporary?
If an action is still going on and we want to express that it is a permanent situation, we would usually use the Present Perfect Simple. For temporary situations, we would prefer the Present Perfect Progressive. This is not a rule, however, only a tendency.
Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
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permanent James has lived in this town for 10 years. (Meaning: He is a permanent resident of this town.) |
temporary James has been living here for a year. (Meaning: This situation is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange student and only here for one or two years.) |
Signal words
Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
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Exercises on Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Progressive
- Result or duration: Exercise 1, Exercise 2
- Certain verbs:Exercise 3
- Completion or duration: Exercise 4, Exercise 5
- Result or side effect: Exercise 6, Exercise 7
- Since the last time or since the beginning: Exercise 8, Exercise 9
- Mixed Exercises: Exercise 10, Exercise 11