The Past Tense

Lessons (1h): The Present Perfect continuous

 

Present perfect simple: "I have looked", "I have worked". We're interested in the result of an activity.

Present perfect continuous: "I have been looking", "I have been working". We're interested in the activity itself.

We have already looked at the Present Perfect on a different page.
On this page, we compare the Present Perfect Simple and the Present Perfect Continuous.

 

The result of an activity, or the activity itself?

So, we use the present perfect simple (PPS) to talk about the result of an activity.
Use the present perfect continuous (PPC) if you are more interested in the activity itself.

Sometimes there is a real difference between the meaning of the PPS and the PPC.
More often there is only a very small difference, or no difference.

 

Sometimes there's a real difference:

Tense Example Meaning
Present perfect simple "I have worked in the library." Result - he knows the library. He could have said “I have been in the library”, or “I have visited the library.” The point is that he knows the library
Present perfect continuous "I have been working in the library." Activity - he was working. He could have said “I have been working with my laptop”, or “I have been working on my project” or even “I’m sorry I’m late, I was working.
Present perfect simple Andrea has painted the kitchen. Result - we like the nice kitchen
Present perfect continuous Andrea has been painting the kitchen." Activity - we're impressed with her work. Or, possibly, that's why Andrea's covered in paint.
Present perfect simple What have you done since we last met? Results! Results! Not friendly. Have you found a proper job? Finished that project? Painted the house? Won a Nobel Prize?
Present perfect continuous What have you been doing since we last met? Activities. Friendly uncle William asking young Thomas about his work, hobbies, holidays, romance, etc.

 

Sometimes there’s no real difference:

Tense Example Meaning
Present perfect simple "Jean has lived in Canada since 2008." There’s no real difference between these two sentences...
Present perfect continuous "Jean has been living in Canada since 2008." ...the speaker just likes to use the present perfect continuous for a change.
Present perfect simple I have looked at your project, and... Teacher to student. Is there much difference?
Present perfect continuous I have been looking at your project, and..." No, there's no real difference.

Graphic of microscopeThe difference in meaning between PPS and PPC is usually very small - microscopic, even!
When there is a real difference, it is probably because we are interested in what a person did recently - in the last two or three days, or the last hour, or the last 10 minutes.

 

PPC used about a period of time

Is there a real difference between these pairs of sentences?

Tense Example Meaning
Present perfect simple Ivan has been to English classes for six months.” Result - now Ivan is getting more confident in English.
Present perfect continuous Ivan has been going to English evening classes for six months.” Activity - now Ivan is busy in the evenings.
Present perfect simple I have worked here for two months ... so now I know what to do.
Present perfect continuous "I have been working here for two months." Before this, I worked in Paris.
Present perfect simple They have talked for at least half an hour.” So now they must understand what the problem is.
Present perfect continuous "They have been talking for at least half an hour." When will they stop talking? I'm bored.
Present perfect simple "We've waited for you for hours." And now we want to go home.
Present perfect continuous "We've been waiting for you for hours." And now we're tired, bored and angry.

 

PPC used to mean "recently"

Is there a real difference between PPS and PPC here?

Tense Example Meaning
Present perfect simple I've felt really tired recently.” Perhaps not very idiomatic.
Present perfect continuous I've been feeling really tired.” The word “recently” is implied. Obviously, the speaker is talking about the last few hours, or perhaps the last few days.
Present perfect simple They’ve put up adverts for the new Honda all over town.
Present perfect continuous "They’ve been putting up adverts for the new Honda all over town."
Present perfect simple Have you smoked?” Not idiomatic.
Present perfect continuous "Have you been smoking?" He means that the other person looks guilty, or smells of cigarette smoke. If you want to ask a question without an accusation, you can say “Do you smoke?