In addition to mastering high-scoring vocabulary, a strong grasp of English grammar tenses is essential. When referring to actions in the past, you might wonder: “Should I use the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous tense?”
To clarify this, we provide a detailed comparison between these two tenses, including definitions, structures, usage, and common signal words. This guide will help you avoid common mistakes and strengthen your understanding.
1. Overview of the Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous Tenses
Definitions
Present Perfect Tense
The Present Perfect tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue up to the present, without specifying the exact time the action occurred.
Examples:
They have eaten the pizza.
She has lived in Ha Long since she was a little girl.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The Present Perfect Continuous tense refers to actions that began in the past, are still happening now, and may continue in the future. This tense emphasizes the duration of the action.
Examples:
I have been studying at this school for 3 years.
I am very tired now because I have been working hard for 8 hours.
Key Difference: The Present Perfect Continuous emphasizes the duration or continuity of the action, while the Present Perfect emphasizes the result or completion of the action.
2. Grammar Structures of the Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous Tenses
Sentence Type | Present Perfect | Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|---|---|
Affirmative | S + have/has + past participle | S + have/has + been + verb-ing |
Example | My aunt has just bought a house. | I have been waiting here for 4 hours. |
Negative | S + have/has + not + past participle | S + have/has + not + been + verb-ing |
Example | Anna has not finished her homework yet. | They haven't been playing video games. |
Yes/No Question | Have/Has + S + past participle? | Have/Has + S + been + verb-ing? |
Example | Have your parents ever visited Korea? | Has he been working at that school? |
WH- Question | What/Why/How + have/has + S + V3? | What/Why/How + have/has + S + been + V-ing? |
Example | Why hasn’t that customer called us? | What have you been doing for the last hour? |
3. Common Signal Words
Tense | Common Time Expressions |
Present Perfect | for, since, just, already, yet, ever, never, recently, so far, until now |
Present Perfect Continuous | for, since, all day, all morning, all her lifetime, how long |
4. Usage of the Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous Tenses
Present Perfect Tense
Usage | Example |
Action that started in the past and continues now | Don’t force her to eat, she has had dinner already. |
Repeated actions in the past | David has written five books and is working on another. |
Action with unspecified time in the past | Someone has taken my seat. |
Personal experience or first-time actions | This is the first time I have watched this movie. |
Past actions with visible present results | Many people have died from Covid-19 recently. |
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Usage | Example |
Action continuing from past until now | I have studied English for 10 years. |
Action that recently stopped but affects the present | She is sad because she has been waiting for him for 2 hours. |
5. Present Perfect Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences with the correct verb form
My mother (not/play) → hasn't played
I (not/have) → haven’t had
We (not/see) → haven’t seen
I (just/realize) → have just realized
Thuy (finish) → has finished
We (be) → have been
I (travel) → have traveled
Exercise 2: Identify and correct the mistakes
cutted → cut
has not working → has not worked
haven’t → hasn’t
eat → eaten
hasn’t → haven’t
✅ correct
since → for
since → for
for → since
hasn’t → haven’t
Exercise 3: Rearrange the words to form correct sentences
We have played tennis for 4 years.
She has gone to the library today.
My brother has moved to a new house near his girlfriend’s flat.
Her teacher hasn’t explained this lesson yet.
This is the best film I have ever watched.
Quan has just left the office for 3 hours.
Have they written a report since last Sunday?
Have you answered the question?
Has Tony locked the door?
6. Present Perfect Continuous Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Complete the sentences
I have been studying English for 5 years.
They have been talking for the last hour.
He has been swimming for one hour.
It has been raining since last night.
Linda has been working here for six years.
We have been studying all day.
They have been living in the USA for 5 months.
June has been going to the supermarket every weekend.
They haven’t been exercising enough.
I haven’t been drinking enough water.
Exercise 2: Identify and correct the mistakes
have → has
have → has
has → have
have → has
have → has
Exercise 3: Complete the questions
How long have you been waiting for us?
What has Helen been doing since she returned?
How long have you been learning English?
How long has she been working in the garden?
Have you been using my computer again?
Has she been working all night?
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