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Learn the nuances between Present Perfect Simple and Continuous tenses with examples and clear explanations to improve your English grammar skills.
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What’s the difference in meaning? • I’ve written the report. • I’ve been writing the report. • I’ve lived here all my life. • I’ve been living here all my life. • We’ve sold over 100 000 items so far. • Our product has been selling well in Germany.
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE Past action+present result The focus is on result Permanent situation PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS The focus is on the activity Temporary situation Repetitive activities
Past action/situation that has an effect in the present To give or ask for more details To talk about an action in an unfinished time period To aks a general question about past experiences With since, for, ever, never, so far, recently, just… A completed action/state in the past (The time is usually stated* or is obvious from the context.) *yesterday, ago, in 2007, earlier this week, last week, month, year… The printer has broken down. (It isn’t working now.) Have you ever been to our Paris offices? Our company has made $6m profit this year. I’ve worked here since January. This project started 6 years ago. “Oh really? When did you go there?” “I went there last autumn.” Present Perfect vs Past Simple
PRESENT PERFECT Past action/situation that has an effect in the present. With since, for, ever, never, so far, recently, just, already… To talk about an action in an unfinished time period (this morning – it is still morning). To aks a general question about past experiences (Have you ever...?) PAST SIMPLE A completed action/state in the past (The time is usually stated - yesterday, ago, in 2007, earlier this week, last week, month, year… or is obvious from the context). To give or ask for more details.