Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous PRESENT

Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous?

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS Affirmative I You He/she/it We You They have been working has been working have been working

Negative I You He/she/it We You They haven’t been working hasn’t been working haven’t been working

Yes/no questions Short answers Have I been working long? Yes, I have. Have you been working long? Has he/she/it been working long? Have we been working long? Have you been working long? Have they been working long? No, I haven’t.

wh-questions Where have you been working ? Why have you been running so long ? What has Peter been doing all day ?

We use the present perfect continuous to express: an activity that began in the past and is continuing now I’ve been studying English for three years. How long have you been working here ? a past activity that has caused a present result I’ve been working all day. (I’m tired now) Have you been crying ? (your eyes are red)

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE or CONTINUOUS (1)? Sometimes there is no difference between the Simple and the Continuous: I’ve played / I’ve been playing the piano since I was a boy. The Continuous can express a temporary activity, and the Simple a permanent state: I’ve been living in this house for the past few months. (temporary) I’ve lived here all my life. (permanent) The Simple expresses a completed action: I’ve painted the kitchen, and now I’m doing the bathroom. I’ve got paint in my hair because I’ve been decorating.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE or CONTINUOUS (2)? The Continuous is not possible if the sentence gives a number or quantity: I’ve been reading all day. I’ve read ten chapters. Depending on whether the verb expresses the idea of a long time: I’ve cut my finger. (one short action) I’ve been cutting firewood. (perhaps over several hours)