He's painting the room He has painted the room.

NOW FINISHED YOU CAN SEE

THE RESULT
He has been painting the room

WE DON'T KNOW IF THE ROOM IS FINISHED

WE ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN THE ACTION
Grammar explanation
We use both the present perfect simple (have or has + past participle) and
the present perfect continuous (have or has + been + -ing form) to talk
about past actions or states which are still connected to the present.

Focusing on result or activity

The present perfect simple usually focuses on the result of the activity
and the quantity.

The present perfect continuous usually focuses on the activity or the

time

Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous

Focuses on the result Focuses on the activity
You've cleaned the bathroom! It I've been gardening. It's so nice
looks lovely! out there.
Says 'how many' Says 'how long'
She's read ten books this She's been reading that book all
summer. day.
Describes an activity which may
Describes a completed action
continue
I've written you an email. I've been writing emails.
When we can see evidence of
recent continuous activity
The grass looks wet. Has it been
raining?
I know, I'm really red. I've been
running!
Connecting past and present
How long have you known each other?
We've known each other since we were at school.

Present perfect continuous for repeated or continuous actions.

Connecting past and present
How long have they been playing tennis?
They've been playing tennis for an hour.
They've been playing tennis every Sunday for years.
I know you dance jazz.
How long have you been dancing jazz?

I know you go to school.

How long have you been going to school?

I know you play the piano.

How long have you been playing the piano?

I know your dad works in a bank.

How long has he been working in a bank?

I know your brother lives in Australia.

How long has he been living in Australia?

I know they write novels.

How long have they been writing novels?

Invent some more

A. I've been writing emails all morning. ( emphasis on how long)

B. How many have you written? ( emphasis on how many)

A. I've been peeling potatoes for an hour.

B. How many have you peeled?

Invent some more

Choose present perfect simple or continuous

1)…......................................................................................(they/arrive) ?

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

recently, 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...................................................(finish) their exams.

They're very happy.

11) The baby's face is really dirty. What....................................................

(he/eat)?

12) Iona is exhausted these days.

She...................................................................................(work) too hard
recently.

13) Luk....................................................................................................
(never/be) abroad.

14) I................................................................................................(wait)
three hours already!

15) …...............................................................................................
(you/finish) your homework yet?

16) How long (you/be)

a lawyer?

17) I …...................................................................(read) your book all day.

It's very interesting, but I'm only on chapter 2.

18) She...................................................................................................
(drink) ten glasses of water!

19) I ….............................................................................................(have)
my dog for sixteen years.

20) Help, I ….....................................................................(lose) my wallet.

How can I get home?

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!