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Unit 2. Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous
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| We use Present Perfectif: 1 an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. I think I have met him once before. 2 you describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event. I have been to France three times. It means that that you have had the experience of being in France. 3 we talk about change that has happened over a period of time The government has become more interested in arts education. 4 we list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time. Man has walked on the Moon. Our son has learned how to read. 5 we talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible. The army has attacked that city five times. I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester. | We use Present Perfect Continuous for: 1 an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped. There is a connection with now: You're out of breath. Have you been running? (you're out of breath now) Paul is very tired. He's been workingvery hard. (he's tired now) Why are your clothes so dirty? What have you been doing? 2 an activity which is still happening How long have you been learning English? (you're still learning English) Tim is still watching television. He's been watching television all day. 3 actions repeated over a period of time: Debbie is a very good tennis player. She's been playing since she was eight. State verbs There are some verbs (for example, know/like/believe) that are normally not used in the continuous: I've known about it for a long time. (not 'I've been knowing') For a list of these verbs, see Unit 1 |
| Time expressions | |
| Just = a short time ago: 'Would you like something to eat?' 'No, thanks. I've justhad lunch. ' already = something happened sooner than expected 'Don't forget to post the letter, will you?' 'I've already posted it.’ Yet = 'until now' and shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen. Use yet only in questions and negative sentences Has it stopped raining yet? I've written the letter but I haven't posted it yet. Ever, never Have you evereaten caviar? (in your life) We've neverhad a car. Recently, lately, so far, up to now, until now / till now We haven't heard from him recently (=lately / of late). | since or ever since with a specific month, year or a period in the past I have been jogging in this park since 2002. He has been staring at the wall ever since he heard the news. for with a number of hours, days, months, years She’s been talking on the phone for 3 hours. |
Difference in Meaning: Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous:
| Present Perfect | Present Perfect Continuous: |
| Result The ceiling was white. Now it is blue. She has painted the ceiling. has painted is the present perfect simple. Here, the important thing is that something has been finished. 'Has painted' is a completed action. We are interested in the result of the activity (the painted ceiling), not in the activity itself. | Duration Ann's clothes are covered in paint. She has been painting the ceiling. has been painting is the present perfect continuous We are interested in the activity. It does not matter whether something has been finished or not. In this example, the activity (painting the ceiling) has not been finished. |
| Emphasis on completion I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.) | Duration I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's how I have spent my time. It does not matter whether the homework is completed now.) |
| desired result I have washed the car. (Result: The car is clean now.) | unwanted side effect Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.) |
| since the last time I haven't played that game for years. (Meaning: It's years ago that I last played that game.) | since the beginning I haven't been playing that game for an hour, only for 10 minutes. (Meaning: It's not even an hour ago that I started to play that game.) |
| permanent James has lived in this town for 10 years. (Meaning: He is a permanent resident of this town.) | temporary James has been living here for a year. (Meaning: This situation is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange student and only here for one or two years.) |
have been to / have been in / have gone to
Jim is away on holiday. He has gone to Spain. (= he is there now or on his way there)
Peter has been in Rome for 3 days. (= he is there now, he arrived in Rome 3 days ago)
Jane is back home from holiday now. She has been to Italy. (= she has now come back from Italy)
Let’s Practice
Дата публикования: 2015-10-09; Прочитано: 577 | Нарушение авторского права страницы | Мы поможем в написании вашей работы!
