Grammar Lessons (Verb Tense): Comparing Simple Present Perfect Tense and Present Perfect Continuous

 

When a situation or condition started in the past and continues in the present and the focus is on the length of time, we use PRESENT PERFECT TENSE (has/have + been)

Common verbs (Feelings, thoughts, conditions, possessions, and situations):- be, want, seem, need, care, contain, owe, to exist, have, possess, own, belong, like, love, hate, dislike, fear, and envy.

Example: I HAVE BEEN sick since Saturday (from Saturday to now).

 

When an action started in the past and continues in the present, and the focus is on the length of time, we use PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE (has/have + been + ING).

Action verbs: eat, work, read, speak, walk, etc.

Example: I HAVE BEEN PAINTING since 7 AM (from 7 AM to now).

 

TIME MARKERS for both:

SINCE + time or date started	or	IN + the LAST + minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years	For + length of time
Since 2010		In the last 15 years (It’s 2025 now)	For 15 years
Since Monday		In the last 5 days (It is Friday now)	For 5 days
Since I was 10 years old / Since I was a child		In the last 20 years (I am 30 now)	For 20 years

Be careful:

• Last week (month, year, etc.) is different from in the last/past week (month, year, etc.)
• Last week (last week only, past)- In the last/past week (from ___ to now)

 

A. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

HOW LONG HAVE YOU + PAST PARTICIPLE?

How long have you been ____ (your job)? – I have been a …
How long have you had your hairstyle? – I have had this hairstyle

PRACTICE: PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

1. What do you want to have? – Example: “I want a golden retriever.” = I have wanted a golden retriever since I was a child.
How long have you wanted a ____? - I have wanted ___ since ___ (for __)

2. Do you have a car? - Yes, I have.
How long have you had your current car? - I have had my current car since ____

3. What is your favorite kind of music? - My favorite kind of music is ____.
How long have you liked it? - I have liked ___ since ___ (for __)

4. What food do you dislike? – Example: I dislike Brussels sprouts.
How long have you disliked ___? - I have disliked it since ___ (for __)

 

B. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Pattern: [HAS/HAVE + BEEN + ING]. The verb must be an action verb = eat, work, play, write, clean

Uses
[#1] Started an action in the past, and it is continuing up to the present.

a] short period, continuous action, no break:
 

CLEAN (action) I started cleaning at 9 AM and I am still cleaning up to now =

I have been cleaning (since 9 AM/for 3 hours)

HOW LONG have you been talking with me? -  I have been talking with you…
HOW LONG have you been sitting on your chair? -  I have been sitting on my chair…

b] long period, started in the past but not yet finished, non-continuous action:
 

RENOVATE (action) I started renovating my house in  ____ and I am still not finished. =

I have been renovating my house since ___ or for ____

What project did you start many months or years ago, but you are still not finished? HOW LONG have you been doing it?  -


COMPARE: Simple Present Perfect (has/have + PP) and Present Perfect Continuous (has/have + been + ing)

Direction: Which sentence is grammatically correct?

1. Exist
A. The organization has existed for 150 years.
B. The organization has been existing for 150 years.

2. Read
A. I have read Stephen King’s new book for three weeks.
B. I have been reading Stephen King’s new book for three weeks.

3. Owe
A. I have owed the bank a lot of money for 10 years.
B. I have been owing the bank a lot of money for 10 years.

4. Explain
A. The manager has explained the project to the team for 15 minutes.
B. The manager has been explaining the project to the team for 15 minutes.

5. Own
A. My family has owned this company for decades.
B. My family has been owning this company for decades.

For more practice test, click this (coming soon)