The present perfect continuous tense is formed by using a form of the auxiliary verb have along with been and the present participle of the main verb. The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that began in the past and ended in the past. Present perfect progressive present perfect continuous. Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous. The present perfect continuous is used to describe an action that began in the past but continues up till the point of speaking about itthe present. The present perfect tense is used to describe something that happened in the past, but the exact time it happened is not important. An actions in the past has something to do with the present. In some cases, the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous are the same. The present perfect simple has a very similar use, which focuses on the result of the action, whereas the present perfect continuous focuses on the action itself. I have done my homework i finished my homework in the past.
Unfinished time and states we often use the present perfect to say what weve done in an unfinished time period, such as today, this week, this year, etc. Shes swimming every morning she didnt use to do this. Present perfect continuous past perfect continuous answers a 1. Although present perfect continuous is less commonly used in its passive form. With non continuous verbs and non continuous uses of mixed verbs, we use the present perfect to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. Complete description of the present perfect continuous verb tense with present perfect continuous exercises and examples.
English grammar today a reference to written and spoken english grammar and usage cambridge dictionary. Present perfectsimple or continuous english grammar lessons. Present perfect continuous tense grammar englishclub. Complete english grammar tenses pdf chart download.
Summary chart we use the present perfect simple with past finished actions or experiences when we dont mention or we dont know when they happened. Present perfect continuous tense present perfect progressive tense is used to express the action or task that started in the past and continues in present. Many learners ask questions about when to use these the past form and the present perfect. The present perfect progressive tense is used to describe an action that has already begun to happen sometime in the past and continues to happen up through the present.
Result of an action in the past is important in the present it is not important when this action happened. Present perfect continuous pdf worksheets english grammar pdf. It is used to describe an event that started in the past but is still happening in the present. Present perfect continuous perfect english grammar. Learn the difference between the present perfect and present perfect continuous tense in english with examples and useful grammar rules. The present perfect progressive tense ginger software. See that post here as we practice the present perfect continuous grammar in this post, my goal for you is the same. This ebook is produced and distributed by red river press inc.
Present perfect progressive present perfect continuous read the situations below and write a sentence using the present perfect progressive tense to say how long the situation has been happening. Simple present vs present continuous present continuous simple present now at the momentat present this morningevening e. The present perfect simple tense is used with finished actions, while the present perfect progressive tense is used with unfinished actions. Esl textbooks, grammar, touchstone 3 by larry pitts. The present perfect is not easy to understand for esl learners. Nov 18, 2015 the present continuous tense is used for 1.
The present perfect continuous is used to talk about events which started in the past and may still be continuing now this tense usually has a link to the present time. The present perfect continuous also called present perfect progressive is a verb tense which is used to show that an action started in the past and has continued up to the present moment. First, we use the present continuous for things that are happening at the moment of speaking. See perfect progressive examples, formating and exercises online. The difference between past continuous and present. Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous tense. And we also use the present perfect simple to ask or talk about situations that started in the past and have not finished.
The word since is used if the exact starting time e. The speaker is thinking about something that started but perhaps did not finish in that period of time. Temporary action or situation the temple has stood on the hill for hundreds of years. The focus is not on the result this is present perfect but on the action itself. The present perfect progressive is used to express the duration of an action that started in the past and continues into the present. Actions which are happening at or around the moment of speaking. In any case, they refer to actions begun in the past but continuing until the present. The present perfect progressive expresses an action that recently stopped or is still going on. The specific words since and for are used in sentence to show the time of action. Esl conversation questions present perfect continuous. Simple present or present perfect progressive english tense. Present perfect progressive continuous affirmative and negative. B the present perfect simple is used for an action which.
Present tense is used to talk about the action in present. M of action is known or intended to be reflected in the sentence. Hello avger, its more common in british english to use a present perfect form with just as the present perfect is often used to describe actions which happen immediately before the time of speaking, but the past simple can also be used in some contexts. In this usage, the present perfect continuous is nearly identical in meaning to the present perfect tense, and, indeed, most of these examples would make perfect sense. Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous.
Present perfect or present perfect continuous tense exercise. Nov 10, 2016 for continuing actions, both the present perfect and present perfect progressive are common, and this can be confusing for students. Simple present or present perfect progressive english. Ive been meaning to phone jane, but i keep forgetting. We use the present perfect continuous tense to describe an action that began in the past progress and may also continue in the future. Present perfectsimple or continuous posted on october 3, 2019 january 19, 2020 by admin often there is very little difference between the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous. I want to know if its possible to use a sentence below in its passive form. The present perfect progressive is not easy to understand for esl students. The present perfect progressive continuous is actually easier to understand than the present perfect simple tense. The past continuous tense is used to describe an action that began in the past and ended in the past the present perfect continuous is used to describe an action that began in the past but continues up till the point of speaking about itthe present considering the scenario that youve provided, if you reached your workplace and noticed that your colleague is still at work, you. Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous exercise 2. Present perfect and present perfect continuous 7 e s l.
The present perfect continuous usually emphasizes duration, or the amount of time that an action has been taking place. The word for is used to express the amount of time e. Today we take a look at the uses of present perfect simple and present perfect continuous. The simple present tense and the present perfect progressive tense, also present perfect continuous, are both used to talk about the present. They share some similarities in use and structure, but are in fact quite different. To clear up this confusion, try presenting these two tenses using the method below, which focuses on shorter time frames within one day and longer time frames days, weeks, months, or years. Present perfect continuous tense with examples, formation. The present perfect continuous uses two auxiliary verbs together with a main verb in this lesson we look at the structure and use of the present perfect continuous tense, as well as the use of for and since, followed by. Present perfect continuous and simple assets cambridge. We often use this with expressions like these days or at the moment. The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about more temporary actions and situations. In the exercises, you can practise using these present tenses. Compare the usage of the simple present and present perfect progressive in english grammar with lingolias simple tense comparison chart. For five minutes, for two weeks, and since tuesday are all durations which can be used with the present perfect.
I have been telling him a long story and not finished yet. These things usually last for quite a short time and they are not. Present perfect and present perfect progressive exercises. When to use the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense in english. Nov 22, 2012 the present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about more temporary actions and situations. The present perfect continuous 287 we use the present perfect tense to show that an action or state started in the past and continues to the present. Present perfect continuous tense formula, usage, exercise. Pdf exercises worksheets with answers on the present perfect continuous. Present perfect continuous english grammar pdf world. In present tense,we express the action in present time. See my page here about the difference between the present perfect simple and the. The present perfect continuous tense is formed by using a form of the auxiliary verb have along with been and the present participle of the main. The difference between past continuous and present perfect.
Using the present perfect continuous or progressive. The use of the past simple with just is more common in us english, where the present perfect is slightly less common. Present perfect we use present perfect to talk about things that took place. Present perfect continuous or past perfect continuous. Use the helping verb phrase has been before a verb in present perfect progressive tense to describe he, she, it. It is a combination of past and present where actions in the past have something to do with the present. The present perfect continuous tense also known as the present perfect progressive tense shows that something started in the past and is continuing at the present time. Verb tenses in english and their usage a research guide for. Present perfect continuous how long present result unfinished ive been living in london for two years. Of course, with stative verbs, we cant use the present perfect continuous. My chinese teacher has given use present perfect, anyway. Nov 07, 20 complete english grammar tenses pdf chart download. With verbs not normally used in the continuous form, use the simple present perfect instead verbs such as. The past perfect continuous corresponds to the present perfect continuous, but with reference to a time earlier than before now.
The present perfect continuous can be used to talk about situations that have just stopped and have present results. Temporary situations ive been going to the gym a lot recently. Difference between present perfect and present perfect. However, we often use the present perfect progressive to emphasize the action. To say how long for unfinished actions which started in. Present perfect continuous past perfect continuous. Heshe is interested in the process as well as the result, and this process may still be going on, or may have just finished. May 14, 2018 present perfect vs present perfect continuous. This use is very similar to how we use the present perfect simple, and often its possible to use either tense. As with the present perfect continuous, we are more interested in the process. Present continuous use also called the present progressive tense read about how to make the present continuous tense here. For anyone who has read my present perfect tense blog post, you know that i try to make grammar more interesting by using lots of helpful examples. Using the present perfect continuous perfect english grammar.
With noncontinuous verbs and noncontinuous uses of mixed verbs, we use the present perfect to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. It puts emphasis on the duration or course of the action. Lower intermediate intermediate exercises advanced exercises home. Get all of our questions, plus many more, in an easy to access format. See my page here about the difference between the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous for more explanation.
We can use the present continuous for temporary or new habits for normal habits that continue for a long time, we use the present simple. The present perfect continuous is used to refer to an unspecified time between before now and now. The present perfect and present perfect continuous are two aspects of the present tense that are sometimes confused by english learners. The present perfect continuous uses two auxiliary verbs together with a main verb in this lesson we look at the structure and use of the present perfect continuous tense, as well as the use of for and since, followed by a quiz to check your understanding. For continuing actions, both the present perfect and present perfect progressive are common, and this can be confusing for students. Thanks to amy whiting from our cape town english school for this lesson a the present perfect simple is used for an action where the time is not known is not important and experiences. This is how we make the present perfect continuous tense. The simple present is used for general statements and actions that take place regularly in the present. Available on amazon paperback kindle or gumroad pdf word ebook.