ENGLISH GRAMMAR
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
Simple and Continuous Forms - formation and use
We use the present perfect tense of verbs to talk about past actions or states that are still connected to the present.
PRESENT PERFECT tenses, simple and continuous: formation and use
PRESENT PERFECT tenses, simple and continuous: formation and use
| PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE | |||
| AFFIRMATIVE | NEGATIVE | INTERROGATIVE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Form | Contracted Form | ||
| I have done | I have not done | I haven't done | Have I done? |
| You have done | You have not done | You haven't done | Have you done? |
| He/she/it has done | He/she/it has not done | He/she/it hasn't done | Has he/she/it done? |
| We have done | We have not done | We haven't done | Have we done ? |
| You have done | You have not done | You haven't done | Have you done? |
| They have done | They have not done | They haven't done | Have they done? |
| PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS | |||
| AFFIRMATIVE | NEGATIVE | INTERROGATIVE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Form | Contracted Form | ||
| I have been doing | I have not been doing | I haven't been doing | Have I been doing? |
| You have been doing | You have not been doing | You haven't been doing | Have you been doing? |
| He/she/it has been doing | He/she/it has not been doing | He/she/it hasn't been doing | Has he/she/it been doing? |
| We have been doing | We have not been doing | We haven't been doing | Have we been doing ? |
| You have been doing | You have not been doing | You haven't been doing | Have you been doing? |
| They have been doing | They have not been doing | They haven't been doing | Have they been doing? |
The present perfect is used to refer to actions which take place in an
unfinished time period up to the time of speaking.
The following should be noted:
1) The use of both forms of the present perfect with no change in meaning.
- The present perfect continuous tense is used to refer to an
action which started in the past and continues until the
present moment or until today.
It emphasises the uninterrupted progress of an action.
- I have been learning English since September.
(I started in September and I continue to take lessons today.) - The boys have been waiting for the bus for 20 minutes.
- I have been learning English since September.
- The present perfect simple
is used to refer to the finished part of a continuous action.
It emphasises the completion of an action and its results.
So far in my English course:- I have learnt new vocabulary.
- I have revised some grammar rules.
- The present perfect, with ever/never, is used to talk about life experiences:
"Have you ever visited Japan?" "No, never."
"Have you ever tasted caviar?"
"Have you ever met Johnny"s wife?"
Example:
Today is your English Revision day. It is now 2 p.m.
At 9 o'clock this morning you started your revision work. At 2 pm the day is not finished, so you can say :
"I have been revising my English since 9 o'clock this morning."
(You are still revising your English, so the continuous form is used.)
However, you have completed part of the revision work, so you can say, for example:
"So far today I have revised tenses and irregular verbs."
N.B.
If you refer to a specific time earlier in the day, you must use the Past Simple :
"This morning I revised tenses and irregular verbs."
"Charlie called me at 10h30."
"I had a sandwich at lunch time"
1) The use of both forms of the present perfect with no change in meaning.
With some verbs such as live and work, the present perfect simple OR continuous can generally be used with no difference in meaning.
- I've lived/I've worked here for 10 years.
- I've been living/I've been working here for 10 years.
- I've always lived here NOT I've always been living here.
Stative verbs have no continuous form.
Stative verbs are verbs that denote possession, mental states or emotions,
for example: own, belong, know, believe, like, wish ...
We can say: "I’ve known Bob for 20 years" NOT "I have been knowing Bob for 20 years".
more about the present perfect
TRY THESE EXERCISES:
Present Perf. Simple or Continuous?
Present Perf.vs Past Simple
Present Perf./Past Simple - Mistake ex.