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Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
ref –
- https://www.grammarwiz.com/difference-present-perfect-and-present-perfect-continuous.html
- https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/grammar/online-grammar/present-perfect-simple-and-present-perfect-continuous
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NGLHYVmr00
Present Perfect: Has/Have + Past Participle
e.g. He has passed his driving test
Present Perfect Continuous: Has/Have + Been + Present Participle
e.g. She has been reading a book
The broad rule is that although both tenses relate to the fact that something is being referred to in the past, the present perfect refers to something that has completed and the focus is on the result of that action, but the present perfect continuous refers to something that is continuing in the present and the focus is on the duration.
Can Choose Either
In some cases we can choose either of the tenses.
This is usually the case when we are referring to biographical type facts about someone’s life, often with the words for and since or some other time frame.
For example:
He’s eaten red meat his whole life
He’s been eating red meat his whole life
He’s worked for the company since he was a teenager
He’s been working for the company since he was a teenager
I’ve lived here for three years
I’ve been living here for three years
They’ve studied English since high school
They’ve been studying English since high school
Short Term or Long Term Action
These facts in the examples above tend to be long-term. However, we tend to use the present perfect continuous to emphasize the fact that an event or activity has been happening over a period of time that is relatively short-term.
I’ve been playing tennis for two hours (short-term)
Compare the long-term, which could be either present perfect or present perfect continuous:
I’ve played tennis most of my life (long-term)
I’ve been playing tennis most of my life (long-term)
Continuing or Completed Action
Another difference between the present perfect and the present perfect continuous is when we want to show whether something is completed or not.
The continuous tense shows that it is not completed.
Compare these:
He has read the book about JFK (the book is finished)
He has been reading the book about JFK (the book’s still being read)
She has taken the medicine (action completed)
She has been taking the medicine (referring to medicine that is being taken over a period of time)
Repeated or Single Action
This is similar to the previous one, but it shows the continuous form can be used to show that something is repeated:
Your wife has phoned you (may have been only once)
Your wife has been phoning you – (she has rung several or many times)
I’ve gone to the local swimming pool (could just be once)
I’ve been going the local swimming pool (indicates going there on several or many occasions)
Examples
State Verbs
State verbs are those that represent a state of mind, such as thinking, knowing, wanting, seeing etc.
Though there are some we can use in the present perfect continuous tenses,
generally most are cannot be used in the continuous tense and
so they are only used with the present perfect:
For instance, we don’t say this:
She has been knowing him for 3 days (X)
He has been seeing the car go past every day (X)
We would say:
She has known him for 3 days (√)
He has seen the car go past every day (√)
Present Participle Adjective (add ‘ing’ to verb, used as an adjective)
ref –
- https://test-english.com/explanation/b1/ed-ing-adjectives-adjectives-verbs/
- https://myenglishgrammar.com/lessons/verb-ing-used-as-an-adjective
What is a Present Participle Adjective
An ‘-ing’ on a present participle of a verb that is used as an adjective. It describes the characteristics of a noun, usually indicates a state or a process that has been ongoing.
Examples:
- Fascinating story (The story fascinates people.)
- Boiling water (The water is boiling.)
- Interesting book (The book interests the reader.)
- The running water was cool and refreshing.
- She gave me a puzzling look.
- I bought an exciting new video game.
Using ‘-ing’ Adjectives
When we use verbs in the ‘-ing’ form as adjectives, they are usually placed before the noun they modify in a sentence.
Though it may appear similar to the Continuous tenses (The Present Continuous, Past Continuous, Future Continuous), the ‘-ing’ adjective does not indicate an action occurring at the time of speaking but an inherent characteristic of the noun it is modifying.
Examples:
‘-ing’ form implying active influence by the subject
When used as an adjective, the ‘-ing’ form often implies an active influence. The subject is performing an action that influences the object. This contrasts with adjectives in the ‘-ed’ form, which imply that the subject is being influenced by an action.
Examples:
Exciting movie (subject):
The movie excites the audience.
Excited audience (subject):
The audience is excited by the movie.
boring movie:
bore + ‘ing’ = boring
This movie is boring.
frustrating homework:
frustrate + ‘ing’ = frustrating
Our homework is frustrating.
We’ll do amazing things:
amaze + ‘ing’ = amazing
The things we do will be amazing.
interesting person :
interest + ‘ing’ = interesting
That person is interesting.
tiring activity:
tire + ‘ing’ = tiring
The activity is tiring.
Other Examples
The approaching deadline hung over the heads of all the people in the office.
approach (verb) + ing = approaching
Here, approaching is an adjective that is used to describe the deadline.
The leaping flames from the burning building presented the firefighters with the responsibility of (preposition) protecting (prepositional object) other nearby buildings from the growing fire.
leap (verb) + ing = leaping
burn (verb) + ing = burning
grow (verb) + ing = growing
Here, leaping, burning, and growing are verbals used as adjectives to describe a
noun (flames, building, and fire respectively) in the sentence, thereby qualifying
them as present participles.
Although it ends in –ing, protecting is not a participle because it is acting as a noun in the sentence (object of the preposition), thereby qualifying it as a gerund.
Future (perfect continuous)
ref – https://www.natterandramble.co.uk/future-perfect-continuous-uses-form-timeline/
[will] + [have] + [been] + [present participle]
The future perfect continuous depicts past/present/future actions that continue up until a certain point. Like the future perfect and future continuous, it’s used with a specified time.
sentence: By October, we will have been working on the project for over a year.
explanation: They started working on this project in the past or present.
It will continue up to October, which marks their 1 year.
sentence: In ten minutes, my parents will have been waiting in traffic for four hours.
explanation: Their parents were stuck in traffic. (past) When it continue up to a certain point (ten minutes), they will have waited for 4 hours.
Future (continuous)
ref – https://www.natterandramble.co.uk/future-continuous-form-uses-timeline/
[will] + [be] + verb [present participle ] + ing
Use the future continuous tense for future actions happening over a period of time, especially when a specific time is mentioned. The future continuous tense also shows more certainty and likelihood than the simple future.
By this time tomorrow, I will be drinking margaritas on the beach.
We will be attending a meeting from noon until 3 p.m.
Future (simple)
ref – https://www.natterandramble.co.uk/future-simple-tense-form-uses-timeline/
Use the simple future for actions that have not happened yet but will later. To form the simple future, just place the modal verb will before the root form of the main verb. (Note that if the action will happen in the near future, you can use the present continuous instead.)
She will be president one day.
I will not go to the wedding without a date!
Future (perfect)
ref – https://www.natterandramble.co.uk/future-perfect-tense-timeline-form-uses/
The Future Perfect tense expresses action in the future before another action in the future.
Future perfect
[will] + [have] + [past participle]
The future perfect shows an action that will be completed in the future by a specified time. Because it depends on another time, the future perfect is often used with words like by, before, at, or when.
By the time you read this, I will have already left.
She will have eaten lunch before her sister even wakes up.
ex:
1) Alice will have returned home.
2) The party is over.
Alice will have returned home when the party is over.
ex:
1) Amelia will not marry Paul
2) Unless he finishes school in the future.
Amelia will not have been married to Paul until he finishes school.
ex:
1) Next July starts
2) We will not have received our degree.
By next July, we will not have received our degree.
ex:
1) Summer starts
2) We will have built the bridge.
By next summer, we will have built the bridge.
ex:
1) Next week starts
2) We will have earned lots of money.
By next week, we’ll have earned lots of money.
ex:
1) Summer starts
2) He will not have received enough money.
He will not have received enough money by the summer.
Present (perfect continuous)
ref – https://www.natterandramble.co.uk/present-perfect-continuous-timeline-form-uses/
Present perfect continuous
[have/has] + [been] + (present participle)
The present perfect continuous shows an ongoing action in the present that was started in the past. It is often used to emphasize the length of time.
We have [been] (waiting for over an hour)!
The team has [been] (practicing nonstop for the tournament).
Present (continuous)
ref –
- https://www.grammarly.com/blog/present-continuous/
- https://byjus.com/english/continuous-tense-examples/
- https://www.natterandramble.co.uk/present-continuous-timeline-form-uses/
The present continuous verb tense indicates that an action or condition is happening now, frequently, and may continue into the future.
Use the present continuous to show an action happening right now or in the near future.
The Present Continuous Formula:
to be [am, is, are] + action verb [present participle]
Aunt Christine is warming up the car while Scott is looking for his new leather coat.
They are eating at Scott’s favorite restaurant today, Polly’s Pancake Diner.
I am reading The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy for the fifth time!
We are eating pizza tonight.
She is going out tonight.
It shows the event unfolded…showing the action as it is happening:
They are sitting at Scott’s favorite booth, the one with the sparkling red plastic seats. (For how long? We don’t know, but we do know they are sitting there now.)
The waiter is standing behind the counter right now with a notepad in his hand and pencil behind his ear. (Will he ever make it over to the booth? Probably, but not now.)
“Are you waiting to open your presents after you eat your pancakes?” said Aunt Christine, taking a sip from her root beer. (Here the present continuous is being used in question form.)
Writers use this tense to add suspense or humor in fictional pieces. What kind of pancakes will Scott and his aunt order? The suspense is killing me!
Do not use the present continuous tense with stative verbs
ref – https://chineseruleof8.com/2023/05/26/stative-verbs/
Stative verbs show a state of being, not qualities of change. These verbs can stay in the simple present. For example, let’s take a look at the stative word prefer. We try to use it in continuous form using preferring.
Aunt Christine is prefering the maple walnut pancakes over the banana peanut butter ones that Scott loves.
WRONG!
We can only use it at a stative verb in a simple present form:
Aunt Christine prefers the maple walnut pancakes over the banana peanut butter ones that Scott loves.
Thus, the stative verb to prefer shows opinion, and therefore SHOULD NOT be conjugated with the present continuous.
Present (simple)
ref –
- https://www.grammarly.com/blog/simple-present/
- https://www.natterandramble.co.uk/present-simple-timeline-form-uses/
The simple present is the most basic of the English tenses. It’s used for individual actions or habitual actions in the present.
Often the simple present is just the root verb with no changes or additions. The main exception to this is when the subject is third person and singular. In this case you add the suffix –s. If the verb ends in o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z, you add –es. If the verb ends in a consonant and y (and the subject is third-person singular), drop the y and add –ies.
Today I feel like a million bucks!
My brother carries the groceries while my sister stays on the couch.
When to use the present simple
The present simple is the most commonly used tense in academic writing, so if in doubt, this should be your default choice of tense. There are two main situations where you always need to use the present tense.
Describing facts, generalizations, and explanations
Facts that are always true do not need to be located in a specific time, so they are stated in the present simple. You might state these types of facts when giving background information in your introduction.
- The Eiffel tower is in Paris.
- Light travels faster than sound.
Similarly, theories and generalizations based on facts are expressed in the present simple.
- Average income differs by race and gender.
- Older people express less concern about the environment than younger people.
- Explanations of terms, theories, and ideas should also be written in the present simple.
- Photosynthesis refers to the process by which plants convert sunlight into chemical energy.
- According to Piketty (2013), inequality grows over time in capitalist economies.
Describing the content of a text
Things that happen within the space of a text should be treated similarly to facts and generalizations.
This applies to fictional narratives in books, films, plays, etc. Use the present simple to describe the events or actions that are your main focus; other tenses can be used to mark different times within the text itself.
In the first novel, Harry learns he is a wizard and travels to Hogwarts for the first time, finally escaping the constraints of the family that raised him.
The events in the first part of the sentence are the writer’s main focus, so they are described in the present tense. The second part uses the past tense to add extra information about something that happened prior to those events within the book.
When discussing and analyzing nonfiction, similarly, use the present simple to describe what the author does within the pages of the text (argues, explains, demonstrates, etc).
In The History of Sexuality, Foucault asserts that sexual identity is a modern invention.
Paglia (1993) critiques Foucault’s theory.
This rule also applies when you are describing what you do in your own text. When summarizing the research in your abstract, describing your objectives, or giving an overview of the dissertation structure in your introduction, the present simple is the best choice of tense.
Use present simple to describe habits
I smoke.
I bike.
I play badminton.
I mountain hike.
He drinks tea at breakfast.
She only eats fish.
They watch television regularly.
Use present simple to describe unchanging situations (repeated actions)
I work in the Bay.
I work in London.
I ride the bus to work.
I ride my bike to school.
We catch the bus every morning.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.
They drive to Monaco every summer.
He goes to office every day.
We paint the walls every year.
He goes for a walk every morning.
She writes a letter every day.
Use present simple to describe general truths
Shenzhen is a green city.
Shanghai is an international city.
Beijing is the capitol of China.
The Earth is round.
Water freezes at zero degrees.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
Her mother is Peruvian.
Use present simple to describe For instructions or directions
Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
You walk down Arvada, and make a left on Entradero. Keep going until the end.
In the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:
– he wants
– she needs
– he gives
– she thinks
I enjoy going to the gym.
She enjoys playing the piano.
He understands English.