PRESENT

PERFECT SIMPLE
VS
PRESENT
PERFECT
PROGRESSIVE
Present perfect simple and
progressive
Both tenses express that an action
began in the past and is still going on or
has just finished.

In many cases, both forms are correct,
but there is often a difference in
meaning.


DIFFERENCE
We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to
express that an action is completed or to
emphasise the result.


We use the Present Perfect Progressive to
emphasise the duration or continuous
course of an action.

RESULT OR DURATION?
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
Result (what / how much /
how often)
I have written 5 letters. / I
have been to London twice.
Duration (how long)
I have been writing for an
hour.
Do you want to express what has
happened so far or how long an action
has been going on yet?

Certain verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in
Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive
form).
state: be, have (for possession only)
Example: We have been on holiday for two
weeks.
senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He has touched the painting.
brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I have known him for 3 years.

PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY?
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
permanent
James has lived in this town for 10
years. (Meaning: He is a
permanent resident of this town.)
temporary
James has been living here for a
year. (Meaning: This situation is only
temporary. Maybe he is an
exchange student and only here
for one or two years.)
If an action is still going on and we want to express that it is a
permanent situation, we would usually use the P.P. Simple.

For temporary situations, we would prefer the P.P. Progressive.

**This is not a rule, however, only a tendency.**
Signal words
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
how often
... times
how long
since
for
We use For when we measure the duration when we say how
long something lasts.
For + a period of time

To measure a period of time up to the present, we use the
present perfect tense and not the present tense.
I have known her for a long time. (Correct)
I know her for a long time. (Incorrect)

Signal words
Since gives the starting point of actions, events or
states. It refers to when things began.
Since + a point in time (in the past), until now.
I've been waiting since 7 o'clock.
I have known him since January.

Since can also be used in the structure It has been +
period of time + since.
It has been two months since I last saw her.
It has been three years since the last earthquake.

Quick quiz
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect
Progressive
I / speak
he / write
they / do
you / swim
she / live
When to use which tense?
'5 times' is a signal word for ...
'for two hours' is a signal word for ...
'since 9 o'clock' is a signal word for ...

Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive).
I (practise)___________________ the piano for 30 minutes.
Bob (run) _________________ 10 km.
The children (be) ________________ on holiday for six days.
The dog (bark) ________________ since midnight.
We (miss) _________________________ the bus twice this week.
You (eat / not) _____________ up yet.
He (speak / not) ______________on the phone for
half an hour, just a couple of minutes.
They (work / not) ____________ since 5 o'clock. They
just started an hour ago.
We (know / not)__________them for a long time.
She (hang / not)____________up all the pictures yet.

How long (wait / she)_____________________ for us?
How many times (tell / I)_________________ you?
How often (clean / you)____________the windows
this year?
How many months (take / you)_____________ piano
lessons?
(stay / you / ever) in a castle?

Complete the conversation.

Tom: Hi Ana. I (try) ___________ to ring you
several times today. Where (you / be)________
Ana: I (be)_________at home all the time. But
I (clean)____________the house all day, so
maybe I didn't hear the phone ring.
Tom: (you / clean)___________everything now?
Ana: No, not yet. I (tidy / not)______________up
the kitchen yet. But why are you here?
Tom: Don't you remember?
Jane (invited)________ us to her birthday party
and we (buy / not)___________ a present for her
yet.
Ana: Oh, that's right. ______________________
(you / find out / already) what she wants?
Tom: Well, she (learn)____________ Spanish for a
year and wants to spend her next holiday in
Mexico. Maybe we could get her a guide
book.
Ana: That's a good idea. There is a good
bookshop in the big shopping centre.
I (see)____________ some nice books about
Mexico there recently.