Look at these examples to see how the present perfect simple and continuous are used.
We've painted the bathroom.
She's been training for a half-marathon.
I've had three coffees already today!
They've been waiting for hours.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
We use both the present perfect simple (have or has + past participle) and the present perfect continuous (have or has + been + -ing form) to talk about past actions or states which are still connected to the present.
Focusing on result or activity
The present perfect simple usually focuses on the result of the activity in some way, and the present perfect continuous usually focuses on the activity itself in some way.
| Present perfect simple | Present perfect continuous |
| Focuses on the result | Focuses on the activity |
| You've cleaned the bathroom! It looks lovely! | I've been gardening. It's so nice out there. |
| Says 'how many' | Says 'how long' |
| She's read ten books this summer. | She's been reading that book all day. |
| Describes a completed action | Describes an activity which may continue |
| I've written you an email. | I've been writing emails. |
| When we can see evidence of recent activity | |
| The grass looks wet. Has it been raining? I know, I'm really red. I've been running! |
Ongoing states and actions
We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect simple to talk about ongoing states.
How long have you known each other?
We've known each other since we were at school.
We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect continuous to talk about ongoing single or repeated actions.
How long have they been playing tennis?
They've been playing tennis for an hour.
They've been playing tennis every Sunday for years.
Sometimes the present perfect continuous can emphasise that a situation is temporary.
I usually go to the gym on the High Street, but it's closed for repairs at the moment so I've been going to the one in the shopping centre.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
Hello,
Some fridges or stoves might look new and shiny, but usually there isn't any way to tell if the company has sold you an item that somebody has already bought, tested, and returned because it wouldn't work.
Does the part in bold sound natural to you? Is the choice of the tenses correct?
Thank you
Hello Tony,
Yes, that sounds fine. Past simple would be possible as well as present perfect (has already bought) in the last clause.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you very much, Peter.
Hello sir, I wanna ask you about one question.This is Task 2 for question no.3.
Q. I'm worried about Sam. She's ___ too hard recently.
been working
worked
In this question , 'recently' means present prefect simple .Why did the answer is 'been working'.
Wating for your response
Thank you.
Hello Aye Thiri,
'Recently' means 'in the recent past' and is often used when a situation continues from the past up to the present. For this use we use the present perfect, especially the present perfect continuous:
I've been spending a lot of time online recently. I should cut down.
Your sentence is a good example of this.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Dear Peter and the Learn English Team,
There is a controversial about this below question. Could you all let me know your thoughts please? Which one would you choose? Many thanks
They ……. about 10 kilometers around their neighbourhood recently.
A. have run B. have been running C. were running D. run
Hello rosetrang,
The phrase 'about 10 kilometres' suggests a result rather than a process, so the simple form is likely. Since we are talking about the recent past with a present result I think answer A (have run) is the most likely.
It is possible to think of contexts in which answers B and C would be possible. For example, the 'about 10 kilometres' measure could be a distance that is repeated rather than a summary of a total achievement: They started by running 2 kilometres but they have been running 10 kilometres .... recently. Similarly, if the running changed in distance but the runners have now stopped running for some reason, then were running might be possible. However, there is nothing in the sentence as given which would suggest either of these answers; you need to invent an outside justification to make them work.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello my teacher Jonathan! As I learnt, present perfect simple and present perfect continuous used to talk about the result and the continuation of the action. So, what is the difference between present perfect simple and present perfect continuous when talking about the result and the continuation of the action. For example:
I have listened to music for one hour. (Still listening)
I have been listening to music for one hour. (Still listening)
Another example:
I have cleaned the room. (Finished, it’s clean now)
I have been cleaning the room. (Finished, it’s clean now)
I have learned that using (for and since) with present perfect and present perfect continuous indicates that the action still continues in present. So, several questions in my mind:
0: Is (for and since) used to indicate the continuation of the action? Or it’s ok to use them to indicate a finished action? And there are other expressions to help understand the meaning of the sequence?
1: can I use the two tenses to talk about the result and the continuation of the action?
2: how can I recognize if the action finished or still continues in present?
3: can I use the tenses to indicate intermittent actions.
For example: I have read this book for one week.
I have been reading this book for one week.
I am confused about these tenses. I will be grateful for you.
Hello AboodKh9,
The difference here is small and is really about the speaker's perception. The simple form focuses on the achievement (one whole hour!) while the continuous focuses more on the activity (here's how I spent the time). This tends to mean that the continuous suggests the activity is likely to continue, while the simple suggests that it may be complete.
Here, there is a difference. The simple form tells us that the cleaning is done and the room is tidy. The continuous suggests that the cleaning is not complete. Here's a similar example:
I've read Moby Dick. [I've finished it]
I've been reading Moby Dick. [I'm in the middle of it]
The present perfect with for or since is used for actions continuing up to the present. It doesn't necessary mean that the action will continue on into the future. Indeed, it is often used to sum up a period of time. For example, imagine a person moving house and taking one last look at their old home:
I've lived here for 20 years. I can't believe I'm finally moving out!
I'm sorry this question is too vague for me to answer without an example.
The context should make this clear. Remember verb forms require verbs and verbs, like all lexis, have their own meanings.
The continuous is more common here and usually we would add an adverbial phrase to make the meaning clear:
I've been reading this book off and on for a week.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you my teacher Peter for your response. But let me explain my point well:
I saw an educational video. When the teacher was speaking to his students, he said (We have spoken for 30 minutes) and a student asked him isn’t this is completed action? The teacher replied: “no, it still continues” the student asked again “so, what is the difference between present perfect simple and present perfect continuous” the teacher replied “here when we use the words (since and for with present perfect simple) we mean that the action still continues in present and not finished. And then the teacher said “but with action verbs it’s better to use present perfect continuous.”
and in the example I mentioned:
( I have cleaned the room. (Finished, it’s clean now)
I have been cleaning the room. (Finished, it’s clean now)
I told you it’s finished in the two sentences. So, why you said “cleaning is not complete” in present perfect continuous ?
I know that present perfect continuous used for both (something finished and something still continues in present)
The difference is a matter of focus or what?
and how I know if the action is finished or still continues in both tenses? By context?