3. SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS
1) To talk about a past experience:
ever…? / never only the SIMPLE is possible!
Have you ever been to England?
I’ve never broken a bone.
4. 2) UNFINISHED PAST: How long....? for / since
Remember that some verbs cannot be used in the continuous. (Stative
verbs!!)
I KNOW SHEILA. I have known Sheila since we were in Primary School.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND MY PARENTS. I have never understood my
parents.
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
-Normally for longer/permanent actions.
I LIVE IN LONDON.
How long have you lived in London?
I have lived in London for 10 years.
(but present perfect continuous is
also possible)
How long have you been living in London?
I have been living in London for 10 years.
-Normally for shorter actions.
I AM WAITING FOR PAUL.
How long have you been waiting for
him?
I have been waiting for half an hour.
5. 3- PRESENT RESULT: The present perfect refers to a past
action and shows the result of the action in the
present.
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
It emphasized the completed task.
A: You look tired!
B: I have done all my maths homework.
I’m having a rest now.
* (the activity has finished)
It is interested in the action in progress.
A: You look tired!
B: I have been doing maths homework
all afternoon.
*(it’s not clear if the activity is finished)
6. LOOK AT THIS!
A. You look sweaty.
B. I have been running. I have run 20 kilometres.
*NOTE : as with all continuous tenses, the Present Perfect Continuous
expresses “duration”. Some verbs, by definition, do not suggest duration,
so they are not used in the continuous. For example,
die/ start/ begin/finish/ stop/find/lose/break
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
I have a stomachache, I have been
eating chocolates all morning.
WE ask or say how much, how many or
how many times.
How many have you eaten?
I have eaten at least ten chocolates.
I have played tennis three times this
week.
7. EXPRESSION USED WITH THESE TENSES.
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
-How long……? For / since
-ever/ never
-just
-already
-yet/still
-how many/how much/how
many times..?
-How long……? For/ since
