■ Cheat Sheet: Present Perfect vs.
Present Perfect
Continuous vs. Simple Past
■ Present Perfect (have/has + past participle)
Use when:
- Focus on result / experience (not the action itself).
- With already, just, yet, ever, never, since, for, this week, today.
Examples:
- I have finished my homework. (result)
- She has visited Murree three times. (how many times)
- It has rained a lot this week. (result: ground wet)
■ Present Perfect Continuous (have/has been + -ing)
Use when:
- Focus on duration / activity still continuing.
- With for, since, all day, all morning, lately, recently.
Examples:
- I have been studying for three hours. (still studying / duration)
- She has been cooking since morning. (activity still going on)
- It has been raining since last night. (still raining)
■ Simple Past (verb + -ed / 2nd form)
Use when:
- Action is finished and time is given (yesterday, last year, in 2010, ago).
- No connection to the present.
Examples:
- I saw that movie yesterday. (finished)
- She went to Murree last year. (time mentioned)
- It rained for three days, but now it has stopped. (finished)
■ Super Shortcut
- Still happening → Continuous
- Finished in the past → Past
- Present result / experience → Perfect
