Difference b/w Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

Difference b/w Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

≫ The Present Perfect tense is used to show (i) a link between the present and past, (ii) finished action and unfinished actions (discontinued).

≫ The Present Perfect Continuous tense to talk about action that started in the past and is continuing now. (also known as present perfect progressive)

BASIC LEVEL

Review about Present Continuous

Review about Present Perfect

Review about Present Perfect Continuous

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL

(i) Temporary and permanent

The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about more temporary situations; the present perfect tense is used to talk about permanent situations.

↷ That sign board has been standing at the gate for hours.

(Temporary situation)

↷ The statue has stood on the hill for hundreds of years.

(Permanent situation)

(ii) How much, how many, how long, recently, lately …

Present Perfect	Present Perfect Continuous
We normally use the present perfect when we say how much , how many	We normally use the present perfect continuous form when we say how long.
↷ The tailor has ironed seven bed sheets.	↷ The tailor has been ironing bed sheets since ten o'clock.
↷ She has played at least seventeen music.	↷ She has been playing music all day.
↷ How many driving lessons have you had?	↷ How long have you been learning to drive?
Describes a completed action	Describes continuity
↷ He has written an essay.	↷ He has been writing essay.
↷ I've read the book you recommended. (= I've finished it, so we can talk about it).	↷ I've been reading the book you recommended. (= I'm enjoying it, but I'm not finished).
↷ I have planted new plants.	↷ I have been gardening since morning.

IMPORTANT REVISION

≫ Difference b/w Present perfect and past simple (past indefinite) click here

(iii) ever, never, already, just, by now, recently, so far, by now, until now etc.

We often use the present perfect with adverbials which refer to the recent past.

≫ “ever” means “in your whole life up to the present time”

≫ “Never” means “not ever”

↷ Their last college function was the worst day they have ever had.

↷ We have never seen that film.

↷ Have you ever met the chairman of our club? Yes, but I've never met his son.

≫ “Just” means “a short time ago”

≫ “Already” means “sooner than expected”

Nabeel: I have just heard about a new motivational speaker. Have you bought a ticket yet?

Aslam: We are too late. They have already sold all the tickets.

(= They sold the tickets very quickly.)

≫ We use yet when we are expecting
something to happen. Nabeel expects that
Aslam will buy a ticket.

≫ Just and already come before the past
participle.

≫ Yet comes at the end of a question or a negative sentence.

↷ It isn't a very good party. Most people have already gone home.

↷ I've just had an idea.

↷ They've just returned from journey.
↷ It's eleven o'clock and she hasn't finished breakfast yet.
↷ Have you bought a ticket yet?

(iii) States verb and action verbs

Learn more about state verb and action verb click here

[Reference: (Second Edition) Oxford Practice Grammar by John Eastwood Unit 17]

We cannot normally use the continuous form with a state verb.

↷ I've known the secret for a long time.

NOT I've been knowing the secret.

↷ My parents have had this car for about ten years.

↷ We've never been very happy here, I'm afraid.

Confusion! gone to or been to click here

Live and work (= have a job) can be continuous or simple, with no difference in meaning.

↷ We've been living here since 1992.

OR We've lived here since 1992.
↷ Sarah has been working for the company for three years now.

OR Sarah has worked for the company for three years now

(iv) Usage of ‘since’ and ‘for’ start from Present Perfect Tense. We also use Present Perfect Continuous with ‘since’ and ‘for’.

↷ They have been playing cricket since morning.

↷ They have been playing cricket for five hours.

(= They are still playing now.)

↷ He has been playing the guitar since he was six.

↷ He has been playing the guitar since he was in school.

↷ They've been playing cricket every Saturday since 2001.

↷ They've been playing cricket every Saturday for ten years.

Usage of Since and For

We use frequently ‘since’ and ‘for’ for these tenses.

Present Perfect	Present Perfect Continuous
Past Perfect	Past Perfect Continuous
Future Perfect	Future Perfect Continuous

'Since' and 'For'

We use 'since' with a fixed time (starting point) in the past (2004, 23rd April, last year). The fixed time can be another action, which is in the past simple (since I was at school, since I arrived).

↷ I have known Aslam since 1992.

↷ She has been here since 2 pm.

↷ You have liked chocolate since you were a child.

We use 'for' with a period of time (2 hours, three years, six months).

↷ I have known Maria for ten years.

↷ He has worked here for six months.

↷ I have known you for a week.

We use how long in questions.

↷ How long have they been married? ~ Oh, for about four years.

↷ How long has Vicky had that camera? ~ Since Monday.

We can also use the present perfect with for and since when something has stopped happening.

↷ He hasn't visited us since July.

↷ You haven't seen your uncle for ages.