Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2,4

Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous

How does it work?

 Talk about events with a connection to the present.

I’ve been decorating the house this summer.
The focus is on the action – decorating – and the action is unfinished.

I’ve painted the house blue.
The focus is on the finished result. The activity is finished but we can see the result now.

When the focus is on an activity that is unfinished.

I have read that book you lent me. I finished it yesterday.

I’ve been reading that book you lent me. I have still got another 50 pages to read.

 Talks about how long something has been happening.

    She’s been writing emails for 3 hours.

    She’s written 10 messages.

 Often used to show that something is temporary.

 I’ve worked here for thirty years.

 I usually work in London but I’ve been working in Birmingham for the last 3 weeks.

You can also use the present perfect continuous for actions repeated over a period of time:

He has been playing tennis since he was eight.

He has played tennis for his school.

...or use it for actions that started in the past and carry on into now

It has been raining for the past two hours

...or for an activity that has recently or just stopped

Bro... have you been running?  You look exhausted!

I______ the house this summer.

1. have been decorating
2. have decorated

I_____ the house blue.

1. have been painting
2. have painted

I _____ that book you lent me. I finished it yesterday.

1. am reading
2. has read
3. have read
4. will read

I _____ that book you lent me. I have still got another 50 pages to read.

1. read
2. have read
3. have been reading
4. have reading

She ______ emails for 3 hours now.

1. wrote
2. has written
3. is writing
4. has been writing

She _____ 10 messages.

1. has been writing
2. has written

I usually work in London but I_____in Birmingham for the last 3 weeks.

1. have worked
2. have been working

I _____ here before.

1. have been working
2. have worked

He ______ tennis for his school

1. has played
2. has been playing

He _____tennis since he was eight.

1. has played
2. has been playing

It ______ for the past two hours

1. has rained
2. has been raining

Bro... _______? You look exhausted!

1. have you run
2. have you been running

Now time to practice!