present perfect continuous present perfect simple
hi in today's lesson we're going to be learning about the present perfect
continuous you're going to learn how and when to use it and most importantly how
it differs from the present perfect simple keep watching until the end as
there'll be some exercises to see how much you've learned so let's get started
firstly let's remind ourselves of the form of the two tenses the present
perfect continuous is formed with have or has plus being plus the Inc form of
the verb for the present perfect simple we use either have or has plus the past
participle now let's look at when to use the two tenses there are similarities
between the present perfect continuous and the present perfect simple most
importantly they both link the past to the present
both the present perfect continuous and the present perfect simple are used to
describe events which started in the past and have continued up to the
present or are activities which have stopped recently so how do you know when
to use the present perfect continuous and when to use the present perfect
simple let's look at the differences between them the most important
difference is that the present perfect continuous is used when we want to focus
on the unfinished activity so let's look at a timeline here we have now and this
is the past so I've been fixing the car and that's why I'm dirty the action
started in the past and is unfinished whereas we used the present perfect
simple to focus on the finished result I fixed the car on the timeline we can see
that the action started in the past is complete and has an impact on the
present it means I finished fixing it and can now do something else we are
focusing on the result or I have been decorating the sitting room that's why
I'm still in my overalls we are using the present perfect continuous because
we want to focus on the unfinished action the decorating whereas if you use
the present perfect simple and say I've painted the sitting room blue here
you're focusing on the result the sitting room is now
the activity is finished and we can see the result the present perfect
continuous suggests that something is unfinished whereas the present perfect
simple gives the idea of completion another example would be I've been
reading that book that you lent me I've got one more chapter to read whereas if
we use the present perfect simple we'd say I've read that book you lent me
I finished it yesterday the present perfect continuous emphasizes the
unfinished action in other words you've not finished reading the book whereas
the present perfect simple and precise is the finished result you've read the
book but you finished it yesterday secondly we use the present perfect
continuous to talk about how long something has been happening for example
I've been learning English for five years so this is how long it's been
going on it's a continuing a duration so we use the present perfect continuous
whereas the present perfect simple tells you how much of an activity is complete
for instance she's answered ten emails this is implying also that these emails
are completed is a finished action we also use the present perfect continuous
when we want to emphasize that something is happening over a period of unfinished
time for example my English teacher says my English has been improving since I
started reading in English whereas we use the present perfect simple to talk
about how often or how many times something has happened I've called
several times today but she hasn't answered the phone we can also use the
present perfect continuous to show that something is temporary so for example I
usually work in London but I've been working in Birmingham for the last four
weeks whereas the present perfect simple is used to talk about how long when we
view something as permanent so I've worked here for 30 years in your mind
you're seeing that as a long-term love it states so also there are some verbs
that beacon that can be used with either the present perfect continuous or the
present perfect simple with little difference in meaning these verbs are
usually verbs that describe activities which normally happen over a period of
time so for instance live study wait work these all happen over a period of
time they're not completed in a short time for example Martin has been working
in England for two years is very similar to saying Martin has
worked in England for two years they mean the same and yet we could use
either tense so let's recap remember the present perfect continuous is used to
focus on the unfinished activity and the present perfect simple is used to focus
on the finished result secondly we use the present perfect continuous to talk
about how long something has been happening and the present perfect simple
tells you how much of an activity is complete thirdly we use the present
perfect continuous where we want to emphasize something happening over a
period of unfinished time whereas the present perfect simple is used to talk
about how often or how many times something has happened and lastly we can
use the present perfect continuous to show that something is temporary whereas
the present perfect simple is to talk about how long when we view something as
permanent so now it's your turn complete the gap with the verb in either
the present perfect continuous or the present perfect simple one I blank
friends so I haven't spoken to my mum yet today I have been visiting here
we're focusing on the action visiting so we used the present perfect continuous
to my mum blank me to tidy my room several times house us the present
perfect simple is used to say how many times something has happened
three I blank the kitchen so what would you like me to clean next
have cleaned here we use the present perfect simple as we're focusing on the
finished result it's a completed action you've finished
screen in the kitchen for our neighbor blank the drums for the last three hours
and it's driving me crazy here we're talking about how long something is has
been happening so we use the present perfect continuous our neighbor has been
playing the drums fine congratulations you blank the exam with really high
marks have passed here we use the present perfect simple because we're
talking about a finished result and congratulations to you guys too you now
know the difference between the present perfect continuous and the present
perfect simple please remember to like this video if you found it useful share
it with your friends and colleagues learning English and remember to
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present perfect continuous present perfect simple