Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Continuous

irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column

form of 'have' + been + verb + ing

of irregular verbs
Example:

Example:

I / you / we / they have spoken

I / you / we / they have been speaking

he / she / it has spoken

he / she / it has been speaking

regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed

Example:
I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed' :

Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

when the final letter is e, only add d

Example: come - coming

Example: love - loved

aber: agree - agreeing

after a short, stressed vowel, the

final consonant is doubled

Example: admit - admitted

silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)

after a short, stressed vowel, the final

consonant is doubled

final l is always doubled in British

Example: sit - sitting

English (not in American English)

Example: travel - travelled

British English (but not in American English).

after a consonant,

Example: travel - travelling

final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)

Example:
worry - worried
but: play - played

after a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in

final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying

When do we use each tense?

Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Continuous

Duration (how long)

Result (what / how much / how often)

I have been writing for an hour.

I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London
twice.

Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Continuous

Emphasis on duration

Emphasis on completion

I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's how I

I have done my

have spent my time. It does not matter whether the

homework. (Meaning: My homework

homework is completed now.)

is completed now.)

Present Perfect Simple

desired result

Present Perfect Continuous

unwanted side effect
Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (side effect: I

I have washed the

became wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether

car. (Result: The car is clean

the car is clean now.)

now.)

Present Perfect Simple

since the last time

Present Perfect Continuous

since the beginning

I haven't played that game for

I haven't been playing that game for an hour, only for 10

years. (Meaning: It's years ago that I

minutes. (Meaning: It's not even an hour ago that I

last played that game.)

started to play that game.)

Present Perfect Simple

permanent

Present Perfect Continuous

temporary

James has lived in this town for 10

James has been living here for a year. (Meaning: This

years. (Meaning: He is a permanent

situation is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange

resident of this town.)

student and only here for one or two years.)

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.

Differences between the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous:

To emphasize the action, we use the continuous form.

We've been working really hard for a couple of months.

She's been having a hard time.

To emphasize the result of the action, we use the simple form.

I've made fifteen phone calls this morning.

He's written a very good report.

Look at the difference in these examples.

I've been reading this book for two months but I've only read half of it. It's very difficult to
read.
She's been trying to convince him for 20 minutes but she hasn't managed to yet.
They've been talking about this for month and they still haven't found a solution.

When an action is finished and you can see the results, use the continuous form.

The phone bill is enormous. You've been calling your boyfriend in Australia, haven't you?
You're red in the face. Have you been running?

When you use the words 'ever' or 'never', use the simple form.

I don't know them. I've never met them.

Have you ever heard anything so strange in your lift

Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

How long_________ Gerry? (you/to know)
You look dirty. What _________ all the time? (you/to do)
How many times_________ New York? (Charles/to visit)
She_________ French words for hours, but she still doesn't remember all of them. (to learn)
The children _________ videos for two hours. (to watch)
_________hard today? (he/to study)
My father _________. (never/to smoke)
Sorry, I'm late. _________for long? (you/to wait)
We_________ Lisa recently. (not/to see)
He_________ on his essay all day, but he _________ yet. (to write) (not/to finish)

Exercises:
1. Dialog:
Robin: I think the waiter (forget)____________________ us. We (wait) ______________ here
for over half an hour and nobody (take) ____________________ our order yet.
Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) ____________________by us at least twenty times. He
probably thinks we (order, already) ____________________.
Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only) ____________________ here for five or
ten minutes and they already have their food.
Michele: He must realize we (order, not) ____________________ yet! We (sit) _________ here
for over half an hour staring at him.
Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even) ____________________ us. He (run) ______________
from table to table taking orders and serving food.
Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) ____________________ in our direction once.

2. Sentences:
1. Judy: How long (be) ____________________ in Canada?
Claude: I (study) ____________________ here for more than three years.
2. I (have) ____________________ the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about
buying a new one.
3. I (love) ____________________ chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me a
"chocoholic."
4. Matt and Sarah (have) ____________________ some difficulties in their relationship lately,
so they (go) ____________________ to a marriage counselor. I hope they work everything out.
5. John (work) ____________________ for the government since he graduated from Harvard
University. Until recently, he (enjoy) ____________________ his work, but now he is talking
about retiring.
6. Lately, I (think) ____________________ about changing my career because I (become)
____________________ dissatisfied with the conditions at my company.
7. I (see) ____________________ Judy for more than five years and during that time I (see)
____________________ many changes in her personality.

Put the verbs into Present Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous:
1. It (rain) _______________ all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I want to go
to the beach.
2. Sid: Where is Gary?
Sarah: He (study, at the library) _______________ for his German test on Wednesday.
In fact, he (review) _______________ for the test every day for the last week.
3. You look really great! (You, exercise) _______________ at the fitness center?
4. Frank, where have you been? We (wait) _______________ for you since 1 PM.
5. Tim: What is that sound?
Nancy: A car alarm (ring) _______________ somewhere down the street. It (drive)
_______________ me crazy - I wish it would stop! It (ring) _______________ for more
than twenty minutes.
6. Joseph's English (improve, really) _______________ , isn't it? He (watch)
_______________ American television programs and (study) _______________ his
grammar every day since he first arrived in San Diego. Soon he will be totally fluent.
7. Dan: You look a little tired. (You, get) _______________ enough sleep lately?

Michelle: Yes, I (sleep) _______________ relatively well. I just look tired because I
(feel) _______________ a little sick for the last week.
Dan: I hope you feel better soon.
Michelle: Thanks. I (take, currently) _______________ some medicine, so I should feel
better in a couple of days.

Put the verbs into Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous:

2. have arrived, were have been expecting

3. have spent, has turned up
4. have had, has told, has not seen
5. has been lossing, has been feeling.