the Present Perfect

vs.
the Present Perfect
Continuous Tense

Let’s review:
-the forms of each (=structure)
-the difference in meaning between
each tense
1) the Present Perfect Tense
The Present Perfect has many uses
and is very common in English.

Generally speaking, the Present

Perfect is used to connect the past
and the present; we often use this
grammar for an action that started in
the past, but is still happening today.

Here is an Example . . . . .
1) the Present Perfect Tense
I have lived in San Diego for 10 years.

Meaning = I moved to San Diego 10

years ago and I still live here today.
The Present Perfect connects the past
and the present.
 1) the Present Perfect Tense
Another common use of the
Present Perfect is . . .
To talk about recently finished actions
(often with just)
(or yet for negative forms)

Examples:
Susan has just mopped the floor, so
don’t walk on it!
Or: She hasn’t mopped the floor yet.
 1) the Present Perfect Tense
-Form-

But . . . what does “past participle” mean?

Past participle for regular verbs:

= the same as the simple past tense.

Regular verbs require –ed in the
simple past tense. For these verbs, the
past participle is the same. What is
the past participle for these verbs?
 Past participle for
irregular verbs:
= depends on the particular verb.
Irregular verbs do not take –ed in the simple
past. For these verbs, you must memorize the
past participle form. Do you know the past
participle for these verbs?

Note: The simple past and the past participle forms

are the same for certain verbs.
(i.e., teach, bring, have, send)
 2) The Present Perfect
Continuous Tense
• The present perfect continuous is often
very similar in meaning to the present
perfect tense.
• Just like the Present Perfect, we can use
this grammar to talk about something that
started in the past, but is still happening.
• But the present perfect continuous focuses
more on the continuous action. The
emphasis is on the duration of the action.
 Example:
It began raining two hours ago.
It is STILL raining now.
*It has been raining for two hours.

This is the present

perfect continuous
tense.
 Present Perfect Continuous
Form:
This grammar has 3 parts:
 Negative Form:
hasn’t (=has not) been +–ing
haven’t (=have not) been +–ing
John has not been living in L.A. for
very long. (or hasn’t been living)

I have not been exercising very much

recently.
(or haven’t been exercising)
More Examples of P.P. Continuous:
Jane started to work in her garden at
8:00 this morning. Now it is 12:00.

She has been working in her garden

for 4 hours!

Wow! That’s a long time!

Where’s Kelly?
She’s sleeping.
She’s been sleeping for a long time.

Sam and Paul are talking in the

hallway. They
have been talking
since their class ended.
 Difference in Meaning:
UNLIKE the Present Perfect, the
Present Perfect Continuous is never
used to talk about recently finished
actions.
1)Susan has mopped the floor.
-present perfect
(recently finished)
2) Susan has been mopping the
floor for 15 minutes.
-p.p. continuous; not finished yet
 Difference in Meaning:
The present perfect focuses more on the result
of the action while the present perfect
continuous focuses more on the action itself.

Tom and Lucy have been painting

all morning! (focus on the activity)

They have just painted the living

room. Doesn’t it look great?
(focus on the result)
 Note! In English, we don’t usually use stative (non-
action) verbs with continuous tenses.
Example:
Jean got a headache two hours ago.
She still has a headache now.

She has been having a headache for two hours.

Because “have” is a stative verb, we don’t

like to put it in continuous form; so
instead, we use present perfect:

Jean has had a headache for two hours.

 Review:
1. The Present Perfect and the Present
Perfect Continuous can be often be used in
the same circumstance.-especially with the verbs
live, work, and study (+when we use since/for)

Example:
1) I have worked at ECC for many years.
-present perfect
2) I have been working at ECC for many years.
-present perfect continuous

-In this case, both actions started in the past

and continue up to the present time.
 Review:
2. However, we DON’T use the Present
Perfect Continuous with stative (non-action)
verbs; instead, we prefer to use the
Present Perfect.

Example:
1) I have been knowing Maria for many years.
-INCORRECT
2) I have known Maria for Many years.
-CORRECT
 Review:
3. Present Perfect is often used
for actions that were recently
completed. We often use “just”
in these cases.
-Mark has just finished his Math
homework.
*We also use the present perfect with
YET in negative sentences:
-Mark hasn’t finished his Math
homework yet.
 Review:
4. Present Perfect
Continuous is preferred
when we want to
emphasize the duration
of an action that is not
yet finished.
-Ana has been studying
for three hours! She
should take a break!
 Review:
5. We use the present perfect
continuous when we are focusing on an
activity that has been going on and on
(and is not finished yet).

However, the present perfect is

preferred when the focus is more on
the result of a recently finished action.