Present perfect simple and continuous
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.
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.
Hello LearningEnglish team
I have some question for the following exapmle.
Has someone ___ my special bread? There's only a little bit left.
If I just want to emphasize the result that someone just ate my bread.
can I fill "eaten" as the answer to this question?
Hello Jack.Lai,
Yes, 'eaten' is correct here. You need the third form of the verb to complete the present perfecct (has eaten).
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
You look nice! Have you ___ your hair cut?
been having
had
Why been having isn't correct
He noticed an evidence that he looked nice
Hello badrrrrrr,
The continuous form (have you been having) here would mean either that the cutting was interrupted and not finished or that the action was repeated multiple times. However, in this context it is clear that we are talking about one completed haircut which has a result (looking nice). Therefore, the simple form (have you had) is appropriate.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
"Been having" implies recent regularity. There are imaginable circumstances relating to the length and nature of the relationship between the speaker and the addressee, and the previous state or condition of the addressee's hair, under which "been having" would make sense to the conversation's two participants, but it would not form the question called for in the given context.
IMHO
Hello,
I'm wondering whether this sentence is correct : He hasn't been studying enough recently. If we want to talk about an action that is going on up to the present, then we should use the continuous form of the present perfect. If something happened recently, then it has been done. This is over. This is about the consequences of a past action. The simple form should be used. Thank you.
Hello si84m,
Yes, that's a good summary. The simple form focuses on the result or the achievement (answering questions like how much or how many) whereas the continuous form focuses on the ongoing process.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello. Could you please help me? Which one is correct? Why?
Look! Someone (has broken - has been breaking) that window.
Thank you.
Hello Ahmed Imam,
The correct option here is the simple form (has broken).
The continuous form would be used for an action which is either repeated or continues on for a measurable time. Obviously, breaking glass is, as we say, once and done and is not an action which is repeatable or which takes a long time.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
i feel like "has broken" is the correct answer, because break describes a completed action, you break something and the action is over.