Present Perfect Simple: general use
• The present perfect is used to indicate a link between the
present and the past. The time of the action is before now but
not specified, and we are often more interested in
the result than in the action itself.
The Present Perfect Simple form uses the auxiliary verb to
have (present tense), plus the past participle of the main verb. The past
participle of a regular verb is base+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. For
Present irregular verbs, there will be a slight change on their formation.
Perfect Affirmative: Subject + to have + past participle. "He has visited"
Simple:
Structure Question: to have + subject + past participle. "Has he visited?"
Negative: Subject + to have + not + past participle. "He hasn't visited"
Actions
started in They haven't She has worked in the
lived together for years. bank for five years.
the past and
continuing
in the
present We have had the same car
for ten years.
Have you played the piano
since you were a child?
When the time I have worked hard this It has rained a lot this
week. year.
period
referred to has
not finished
We haven't
seen her today.
Actions
repeated in an They have seen that
film six times
It has happened several
times already.
unspecified
period between
the past and
now We have eaten at that
restaurant many times.
Actions completed in the very recent past
• Have you just finished work?
• I have just eaten.
• We have just seen her.
• Has he just left?
Present Perfect Continuous: general
use
• The present perfect continuous tense (also
known as the present perfect progressive
tense) shows that something started in the
past and is continuing at the present time
The present perfect continuous is formed using has/have
+ been + present participle. Questions are indicated by
inverting the subject and has/have. Negatives are made
with not.
Present
Affirmative: You have been waiting here for two hours.
Perfect
Continuous:
Question: Have you been waiting here for two hours?
Structure
Negative: You have not been waiting here for two hours.
Present Perfect Continuous
uses: First Use
• We use the present perfect continuous to show that something started in
the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two
weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the
present perfect continuous.
• They have been talking for the last hour.
• She has been working at that company for three years.
• What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
• James has been teaching at the university since June.
• We have been waiting here for over two hours!
Present Perfect Continuous
uses: Second Use
• You can also use the present perfect continuous WITHOUT a
duration such as "for two weeks." Without the duration, the tense
has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words
"lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.
• Recently, I have been feeling really tired.
• She has been watching too much television lately.
• Have you been exercising lately?
• Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
• Lisa has not been practicing her English.
Present Perfect
Simple or
Continuous:
Situations that started in the past and still
continue
• We must use the present perfect • We use the present perfect
simple with non-action verbs (stative verbs), continuous (and NOT simple) with dynamic
and we normally use the present perfect verbs for situations that started in the past
continuous with dynamic verbs (although and still continue when we want
the present perfect simple is also possible.) to emphasise how long the situation has
lasted.
• We‘ve had this car for years.
• I have been waiting for hours! (=I want to
• I haven’t been sleeping well lately.
emphasise that I’ve been waiting for a long
time).
• I couldn’t do the dishes. I’ve been working all
day.
Finished and
Unfinished situations
• We use the present perfect simple for finished actions in the past when we
don’t say when. We use the present perfect continuous for actions or
situations that maybe have not finished or that maybe have finished (very
recently)
• Who has eaten my cookies? (=We would say this if there are no cookies left.
The action is finished.
• Who has been eating my cookies? (=We would say this if there are
some cookies left)
• I‘ve been watching the series you recommended. I’ll tell you about it when I
finish watching it.
• I‘ve watched the series you recommended. I watched the last episode
yesterday.
Actions with present results
• We can use present perfect simple and present • We use the present perfect continuous if
perfect continuous for actions with present the present results come from the process
results. We use the present perfect simple if of doing the action.
the present results come from completing
the action. • Sorry I’m so sweaty. I‘ve been washing my
car. (=I am sweaty because of the physical
• Look how nice my car looks. I‘ve activity that washing the car involves.)
washed it. (=The car looks nice because I have
finished washing it.) • How come you are so
dirty? Have you been painting? (=You are
• Something is different in this
dirty because of the process of painting.)
house. Have you painted it? (=The house looks
different because you have completed the
action of painting it.)
