Lesson 45: Present Perfect Continuous

Present simple vs. Present perfect simple

Present simple Present perfect simple
Form Form
S + present simple verb Have/has + verb past participle
 I hate dogs. I have been to Kampot.

Use Use
1. Permanent states – something that’s true for a Unfinished past action
long time. I have been a student for 9 years.
Eg. I am a student.
2. Habits Indefinite past action
I always ride my bike to school. I have stayed at Kampot.
3. General truth Present result
Tress in the forest grow by themselves. He’s painted his house.
4. Future based on timetable
The grammar class starts at 6 o’clock.

Lesson 45: Present Perfect Continuous

Present continuous tense Present perfect continuous

Form: to be + v.ing. Form: have/has + been + v.ing
Eg. I am studying now. Eg. I have been studying for four hours.
USE USE
1. For an action that is happening now at the 1. For an activity which happened in the past and
moment of speaking. continues up to the present (an unfinished past
Eg. I am speaking now. activity).
Eg. I have been speaking for 30 minutes.

1. We use Present perfect simple and perfect continuous to talk about a period of an unfinished past
action. But
- Present perfect simple talks about a period of an unfinished past action of
o Permanent states / something that is true for a long time.
 I live in Cambodia. (permanent)
 I have lived in Cambodia since I was born. (an unfinished past action)
o Habits
 I always eat breakfast at 7. (a habit)
 I have always eaten breakfast at 7 since I was young.

- Present perfect continuous talks about a period of an unfinished past action of

o something that is happening now
 I am studying English now. (Present continuous)
 I have been studying English for an hour. (present perfect continuous)
o Something that is happening around now.
 I am studying present perfect continuous tense.
 I have been studying present perfect continuous tense for 2 days.
 I am studying English grammar practice 4.
 I have been studying English grammar practice 4 for 3 months.

Mala is talking on phone with her boyfriend.

Mala has been talking on phone with her boyfriend for 30 minutes.