04-10-2023

F R E SH ME N

PAST TO PRESENT
(SIMPLE VS CONTINUOUS)

THESE SENTENCES
I have watched a number of documentaries about the environment
lately.
Don’t know how many times, or when this action has happened. Some actions have
finished, but not the whole process

I have been watching a documentary about the environment lately. It

is a series of 10 episodes.
Extensive process that began at some point and is still going on. I haven’t finished
watching the series and I am emphasizing that.

1
 04-10-2023

AS YOU MAY REALISE…

• We use both simple and continuous to speak/talk about actions which
are still connected to our present. (common ground)

• The main difference lies on whether you want to focus on the result of an
action (simple), or you want to draw the attention to the activity itself
(continuous).

• It really is this simple, it depends on what you want to express or draw

your attention to.

WE USUALLY SEE THESE…

• Focuses on the result: • Focuses on the activity
• You’ve finished your test. I hope you do well! • I have been doing this test for the last hour. It
is really long.

• Says “how many” • Say “how long”

• I have seen 3 documentaries about the • He’s been watching environmental
environment. documentaries the whole week.
• Describes an unfinished actions (may
• Describes a completed action continue)
• I have sent you an email. • I have been responding emails.

2

FOR, SINCE AND HOW LONG
• It is usually used with the present
perfect simple to talk about ongoing
states.
• How long have you known Tomás?
• I have known him for about 10 years
now.
• How long have you known Tomás?
• I have known him since 2010.
04-10-2023
• It is usually used with present perfect
continuous to talk about ongoing
specific/single actions
• How long have you been waiting for the bus?
• I have been waiting here for about an hour.
• How long have you been waiting for the bus?
• I have been waiting since 11:30am (it’s 12:23)
3
 04-10-2023

AS AN ADDITION…
• Sometimes there is really no noticeable difference in meaning. This is in
the case of verbs such as live, work, and study.

• They've lived in London since 2004.

• They've been living in London since 2004.

• I've studied French for ten years.

• I've been studying French for ten years.

• He's worked at the company since 2009.

• He's been working at our company since 2009.

ONGOING
ACTIONS FROM A
RECENT PAST.

4
 04-10-2023

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

• We are talking about actions that began in the past and are still ocurring/happening
in the present time.

• Usually we use this to focus on the action itself and its continuity, rather than its
results or effects in the present.

• Besides, we express that the action is incomplete, not finished. We emphasize its
ongoing nature.

AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THAT…

We have been looking at the monitor for about 15 minutes now.

Or that…

She has been reading the information on the ppt since the class began.

Most probably these two actions will continue for a period of time. Thus, my intention as a
teacher was to underscore how long they have been ocurring/going on.

10

5
 04-10-2023

NOW, LET’S LOOK AT IT MORE CLOSELY.

SHALL WE?
The students have been learning english since first grade.

3 main elements need to be identified (red, blue, and green)

HAVE/HAS - BEEN - -ing verb

(the aux.) (cont. Aux.) (main Verb)

these 2 tell you that you are speaking about this one is basically the only verb
an action that began in the past and continues which has real meaning (action)
(gramar meaning-tense)

11

SO, NOW THAT YOU KNOW…

• What are we looking at here?

Exactly, the present perfect continuous.

Ongoing actions that began in the past and continue

in the present. Mostly used to emphasize that it is still
going on and will carry on for a while.

12

6
 04-10-2023

WHAT’S MISSING?
Matilde has been reading that book for the whole week.

Mario and Matilde have been talking on the phone since 8pm (now 8:45pm)

Renato and his family have been looking for a new apartment the whole month.

It has been raining all week. What a cool thing.

The band have been playing since 1982. That’s a long time.

13

NOW, HOW SHOULD I COMPLETE

THESE?
I have been practicing the piano since 9am. I am a bit tired. (practice)

Fernanda has been listening to music for three hours. (listen)

The band have been touring since march. I think this is their last concert. (tour)

The computer has been downloading this for quite a while now. (download)

We have been writing songs since 1998. we have never stopped! (write)

14

7
 04-10-2023

STRUCTURE

Always same!

15

SOME MORE…

Has been doing

has
has been raining
haven’t been studying
have been driving
have been playing
have been waiting
haven’t
have been spending
has been eating

16