Topic: “Present Perfect Simple vs

Present Perfect Continuous”

Teacher: Nath Thavrat

Similarity

 Duration
 Present Results
 Unfinished action
 Something happening in the past and continuing up to the present time
 Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous

 Emphasizes result  Emphasizes the action
Ex: She has painted the ceiling. Ex: She has been painting the ceiling.
(She has finished painting. Therefore the ceiling has (finished or not finished)
been changed from white to blue.)

 Says how long has something been happening.

 Says how much we have done, how many things
Ex: Ann has been writing letters all day.
we have done or how many times we have done
something. - How long have been reading that book?
Ex: Ann has written ten letters today. (How many) - Jim has been playing tennis since 2:00.
- How many pages of that book have you read? (How
many)
- James has played tennis three times this week.
(How many times)
Present Perfect Simple vs Present
Perfect Continuous
 Talks about the permanent
situation
Ex: John has lived in Cambodia.
- They have worked for government all
their lives.
 Is used with time expressions such
as, today, this morning, this week,
this month, this year, etc.
Ex: I have drunk four cups of coffee
today.
- He has been to PP thrice this week.
 Talk about temporary situation.
Ex: John has been living in Cambodia
since January.
- They have been working hard
recently.
 Is used with times expressions such
as, all morning, all afternoon, all
evening, all day, all week, all
month, all year, etc.
Ex: I have been working all day.
- He is typing his computer all morning.
 Present Perfect Simple vs Present
Perfect Continuous
 Can be used with state verbs
Ex: I have loved her under the table since 2010.
(Correct)
 Announce the news
Ex: She has found a new job.
- They have devastated the car.
 Cannot be used with state verbs
Ex: I have been loving her under the table since
2010. (Incorrect)
 To emphasizes the process of changes or
development over a period of time and
the changes are not finished.
Ex: Your English has been improving since you
started doing your homework.
State verbs/Non-action verbs/ Non-progressive verb

Verbs that are not used in Present Perfect Continuous

. Mental State: Know, understand…
. Emotional state: love, like …
. Possession: have, own
. Sense of Perceptions: taste, smell,..
. Other existing states seem, cost….
Note:

 Some verbs have the idea of a long time _ wait, work, learn, travel, try, rain, play
( These verbs are frequently found in Present Perfect Continuous)
 Some verbs that don’t have an idea of a long time_ find, start, buy, die, lose,
break, and stop. They are found in Present Perfect Simple. It is unusual to find
these in Present Perfect Continuous.

 Sometimes there are no differences between Present Perfect Simple and Present
Perfect Continuous.
Ex:
I have played football since I was young.
I have been playing football since I was young.