Hello. This is Jack from tofluency.com. And in this video, you're going to learn about
the present perfect, so keep watching!
Daniela from Italy asks, "What's the different between the present perfect simple and the
present perfect continuous?"
Thank you for your question. The first thing to know when looking at the difference between
the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous is that it can be quite
complex and it can also be flexible. So, there are times when you can use both tenses; there
are times that the different tenses only make a small difference. And also, there are lots
of little situations when we use one or when we use the other.
But in this video, I'm going to focus on the two main differences. I do have a free download
that you can get that goes into this in more depth, but in this video, I'm just going
to focus on the two main differences.
The first way to think about the difference between these two tenses is whether you are
focusing on an action or a result. So, here is one example, "I've been reading all day"
- this is the present perfect continuous. The second example is "I've read 100 pages
today" - this is the present perfect simple.
Looking at the first example, the present perfect continuous - I've been reading all
day - what we can say about it is this: it focuses on the act of reading. The action:
'been reading'. So, when you're using the present perfect continuous here, a lot of
the time we are focusing on the action - I've been reading all day.
However, in the second example, "I've read 100 pages today" this is the present perfect
simple and it focuses on the result - so, we're focusing on the 100 pages, the result
of the action. So, that is the first difference and, as I said, there is a download with more
examples.
The second difference is about continuous and non-continuous verbs. Because we can use
both tenses for something that started in the past but continues in the present. And
as I say here, we can use both depending on the verb.
Here are two examples: "I've known him for a long time""I've been helping him for a long
time." So, both are talking about something that started in the past and continue in the
present. But, in one example we use the present perfect simple and in the other we use the
present perfect continuous.
Looking at the first example, "I've known him for a long time" - 'to know' is a non-continuous
verb. For example, we don't say, "I am knowing him" instead we say "I know him." And that
is why we don't say "I have been knowing him for a long time" instead we say "I have known
him for a long time." So, because 'to know' is a non-continuous verb, we use this in the
present perfect simple. An action that started in the past, but continues in the present.
The second example, "I've been helping him for a long time" is the present perfect continuous.
'To help' is a continuous verb. "I've been helping him for a long time." So this is when
we use it in the present perfect continuous. Now, some verbs can be used in both tenses.
For example, you can say, "I've lived here for 5 years." Or "I've been living here for
5 years." So, with some verbs, we can use them in both tenses.
That has given you an overview of the difference between the present perfect simple and the
present perfect continuous. But do not go just yet... because I have a free worksheet
for you. It's going to summarize the difference between these two tenses, give you more examples,
and there's also an exercise for you to do. So, click the link to download that and I'll
see you next time!