Present perfect simple and continuous

Present perfect simple and continuous

Do you know the difference between We've painted the room and We've been painting the room? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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.

Grammar test 1

Grammar B1-B2: Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous: 1

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.

Grammar test 2

Grammar B1-B2: Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous: 2

Language level

Average: 4.4 (91 votes)
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Hi Khangvo2812,

It really depends what exactly your teacher said. The best person to answer this question is probably your teacher!

That said, if your teacher said something like "We've been practising vocabulary", it could be because the teacher wanted to emphasise the activity itself rather than any result of it, or because the teacher intends to continue it in future lessons. It's hard to know for sure without knowing what exactly was said and the context of your class.

Jonathan

LearnEnglish team

Submitted by farangis.l on Thu, 14/09/2023 - 11:53

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Hi
In this sentence
Has someone (been eating /eaten)my special bread?There is only a little bit left.why is( been eating )correct?

Hello fanagis.l,

We often use the present perfect continuous to speak of an activity that we see evidence of. In this case, the activity is eating the special bread and 'there is only a little bit left' is the evidence of someone eating the bread.

If none of the bread was left, the present perfect simple would be the correct form since it refers to a completed action: 'Has someone eaten my special bread? I don't see it anywhere.'

All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team

Submitted by inci.yildirim on Sat, 15/07/2023 - 22:15

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In grammer test 1st question,
why we can't use "hated"?
Isn't the sentence focusing in the activity?
I am looking forward for your reply.
Thank you.

Hi inci.yildirim,

"Hated" is actually the correct answer. Were you asking about why "been hating" is incorrect?

"Hate" is a stative verb, and stative verbs aren't normally used in continuous structures. You can read more about this on our stative verbs page (linked). I hope you find it useful.

Jonathan

LearnEnglish team

Submitted by Sachin penguin on Wed, 28/06/2023 - 13:54

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Hello sir/mam. Could you please summarise in which places we should use present perfect tense? I know it's there but I still have some doubts.

Hello sachin penguin,

There are many different ways the present perfect is used, and they are all connected to the situation the communication is happening in. In general, it refers to a past time that is somehow connected to the present.

There are several pages on LearnEnglish that I would refer you to for more details and specific examples.

We're also happy to answer any more specific questions you have. Answering very general ones takes quite a lot of effort and is just a repeat of what you can find on these pages.

All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team

Submitted by Amani Sweidan on Fri, 05/05/2023 - 22:41

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Hello,
I have a question please!

Which statement is correct and why?

I haven't slept all night long.
I haven't been sleeping all night long.

Thank you!

Hello Amani Sweidan,

The first one ('haven't slept') is the most natural choice here.

Generally, we use the present perfect continuous form (have been + verbing) when an activity is ongoing over a period of time, is unfinished or is repeated over a period of time. For example:

> I have been working very hard recently. [an ongoing activity]

> She has been reading Romeo and Juliet. [an unfinished activity]

> They have been seeing the doctor about this for a few months. [a repeated activity]

 

We use the simple form (have + verb3) when we see an action as a single fact with a present result, especially when we consider it complete. In your example, the person is reporting at the end of the night, so it is a completed action with a present result.

You could use the continuous form if the situation were repeated and ongoing. For example: I haven't been sleeping well for weeks.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hi Mr. Peter
I would like share you my question.
At the lesson, I saw this example:
Use present perfect continous. Says " how long"
- She's been reading that book all day.

And according to your answer. The person can be also reporting at the end of the day, so it is a completed action with a present result. Can we use the simple form (have + verb3) : She has read that book all day. ?

Similarly, the sentence "I haven't been sleeping all night long". is not wrong. It is just not as natural as " I haven't slept all night long". Isn't it?

Thank you very much!