Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

Hello English learners! Welcome to a new lesson.  Have you ever wondered why we say “I have worked all day” in one situation, and “I have been working all day” in another? Both tenses describe actions connected to the present, but they don’t always mean the same thing.  Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

Let’s dive into the difference between the Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous and learn when to use each one.

What is the Present Perfect?

Form:

have/has + past participle

• I have finished my homework.
• She has visited London twice.

We use the present perfect to:

Talk about past actions with a result in the present

• I have lost my keys. (So I can’t open the door now.)
• He has broken his arm. (It’s still broken.)

Talk about life experiences (without saying exactly when)

• I have travelled to Italy.
• She has never eaten sushi.

Talk about repeated actions up to now

• We have watched that film three times.
• They have called me several times today.

Talk about actions that started in the past and still continue

• I have lived in Edinburgh for 10 years.
• He has worked here since 2018.

Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

What is the Present Perfect Continuous?

Form:

have/has + been + verb-ing

• I have been working all morning.
• She has been reading that book for hours.

We use the present perfect continuous to:

Focus on the activity or duration, not the result

• I have been studying English for two hours. (Focus on the activity, not whether it’s finished.)
• He has been painting the fence. (Maybe he hasn’t finished.)

Talk about an action that started in the past and is still happening

• We have been waiting for the bus since 8 o’clock.
• She has been talking on the phone all evening.

Explain a recent result you can see, hear, or feel

• Why are you tired? – I have been working all day.
• Your hands are dirty – Have you been digging in the garden?

Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous: The Key Differences

What about stative verbs?

Some verbs don’t work well in the continuous form—especially verbs of state (e.g. know, believe, like, understand).

❌ I’ve been knowing her for years.

 ✅ I’ve known her for years.

Find out more about stative verbs here

Do the quiz to perfect your knowledge:

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