PRESENT PERFECT vs.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT PERFECT: Subject + have/has + past participle +

(complement)
It is used to indicate an action has happened in the past at an
indefinite time.
Diana has taken English classes in the past. (Not specific when it
happened)
Luke has thought about moving. (Not a specific time)
Already
Karl has already signed up for the tour. (Affirmative sentences)
Mom, I have already done my homework. (It happened before it
was expected)
Teacher, I have studied for the test already. (The action happened
before it was expected to happen.)
Has he already done his homework? (Questions)
Has he done his homework already? (It expresses surprise that
something happened sooner than expected)
Yet
Karl hasnt signed up for the tour yet. (Negative sentences)
Karl has not yet signed up for the tour. (To find out if something
has happened before now)
o Karl has yet to sign up for the tour. (The action is expected but it
has not happened up to this point negative meaning)
Has Karl signed up for the tour yet? (Questions)
Have you bought the tickets for the concert yet? Yes, I have
already bought them.
No, I havent bought them yet/ No, I have yet to buy them.
Still (Same as yet)
I still havent made up my mind about what Ill do after school.
I havent made up my mind still.

Ever (Use it ask questions about experiences- things that have or

havent happened up until now or at any time)
Have you ever won a trophy?
Have you ever eaten sushi? (For emphasis)
Meaning: Have you eaten sushi at any time?
I havent ever won a trophy. (Negative statements cannot have
two negatives together)
Never (Use it to say that an action has not happened at any time)
I have never been to France.
Meaning: I havent been to France anytime in my life.
Before (Use it to ask/say if an action has happened at another
time in the past)
I have seen this movie before.
Meaning: I have seen this movie at least one time in the past.
For (Use it to talk about how long something has been true. For is
followed by a specific amount of time, such as two weeks, five
minutes, six years. For answers the question How much time/For
how long?
I have been teaching English for 2 years.
How much time? For how long? For 2 years.
Since (Use it to give a specific time when an action or event
began. Use since when you know the beginning of something but
not the end. Since answers the question Since when? When did
it begin?
I have worked in the CBA since February, 2011.
Since when? When did I begin? Since February, 2011.
How Long (Use it to ask about when a continuing situation or
action began. Answers to this question usually include for or since)
How long have you known her?
Ive known her for two months.

Ive known her since May.

So far (Up to this point)
So far, I have finished 3 out of the 6 exercises.
I have finished 3 out of the 6 exercises so far.
She hasnt bought anything so far.
So far, she hasnt bought anything.
Recently
I have recently read a book.
I have read a book recently.
Have you read a good book recently?
Lately
I have not read a good book lately.
Have you read a good book lately?
Just
I have just heard about the news.
What have you just said?
o Use time expressions like (a number) + times, once, twice, etc. to
talk about actions that happened one time or more than once.
She has seen this movie 3 times.
She saw this movie once.
Paul has failed this class twice.
o Use adverbs like just, recently and lately to talk about actions that
started in the past and have a connection to the present. (They
happened very close to the present.)
I have just moved to SC.
They have recently made plans to get married.
Have you made any progress lately?
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS: Subject + have/has + been +
present participle (verb + ing) + (complement)
It is used to describe unfinished or continuing actions. Use it to
suggest that an action will continue.

 Certain stative verbs (non-action verbs) are not used in the present
perfect continuous:
Be

Believe

Hate

Have
(possession)
Like
Love
Own
Seem
Ive known about his research for many years.
Ive been knowing about his research for many years.

Know
Understand
Correct
Incorrect

Present Perfect
v
Present Perfect Continuous
Ballard has searched for
s. Ballard has been searching for
shipwrecks for many years.
shipwrecks for many years
The speaker is not necessarily
The speaker may be suggesting
suggesting that Ballard will
that Ballard will continue to search.
continue to search.
Note that this is not a sharp distinction or rule.