Present perfect and present perfect progressive

1. 5CDE
Summer 2013
Holly Cin

2.  The present perfect is tricky because it’s not
always present, and it’s not always perfect :D
 Case 1: The present perfect starts in the past
and includes the present. In this case, the
present perfect is similar to the present.
 Case 2: The present perfect starts and ends in
the past, but we don’t know when. In this case,
the present perfect is similar to the simple past.

3.  In this case, we mention the duration.
 Duration is SINCE a point/moment in time or FOR a period of time.
 Since yesterday; since 9 a.m; since Monday; since last month; since 1995, since June 1st.
 Since can also begin an adverb clause of time, also known as a time clause. The verb in
the since-clause is in the simple past.
Since I arrived here; since class began; since we first met.
We can also say “ever since.”
I have loved him EVER SINCE I MET HIM.
EVER SINCE YOU GOT HERE, you have not stopped complaining!
 For a day; for 3 hours; for 2 days; for a month; for 18 years; for a while; for a long time;
forever; for ages; for as long as I can remember.

4. 1. I have worked at the LCC for 5 years.
I have worked at the LCC since 2007.
Am I still working at the LCC?
Yes. The situation started in the past and continues
in the present.
2. We have discussed grammar since last
Wednesday.
We have discussed grammar for 4 days.
Are we still discussing grammar?
Yes. The situation started in the past and
continues in the present.

5.  The event started and ended at some point in the past.
The event could have happened multiple times.
 The event does not continue to the present.
 We don’t know when the event happened and its not
important.
 Duration is not mentioned because there is no
duration!
 We often use the adverbs EVER, ALREADY, and YET.
These adverbs refer to unspecified times in the past.

6.  Q: Have you ever been to Austin (in your life—
time is unspecified)?
 A: Yes, I’ve been there twice before.
 Do I know when? No. And it doesn’t matter. If
I want to know when, then I’ll use simple past.
 Q: When did you go?
 A: I was there last month (a specific point in
time).

7.  Q: Have you tried sushi before (some time
before now—time is unspecified)?
 A: Yes, I’ve eaten sushi many times.
 Do I know when? No. And it doesn’t matter. If
I want to know when, then I’ll use SIMPLE
PAST.
 Q: When did you last eat sushi?
 A: Actually, I had sushi for dinner last night (a
specific point in time).

8.  Sometimes there is no difference between the
present perfect and the simple past, so we can use
either tense.
 Have you finished dinner yet?
 Did you finish dinner yet?
 Ender has already finished dinner (already).
 Ender already finished dinner (already).
 In both cases, the event (finishing dinner) ended at
some point in the past, but we don’t know when. If
we want to say when, then we have to use the
simple past.
 Did you finish dinner at 6 p.m.?
 NOT: Have you finished dinner at 6 p.m.?

9.  1. PPP is like the present perfect, when the
present perfect includes now.
 2. PPP means the recent past.
 3. PPP is used for an event that ended in the
recent past and has a present result.

10.  The event started in the past and continues to the
present. We use the ppp to stress that the event is
still in progress. We want to say how long the
event has been happening so we mention the
duration of time.
 Examples:
 1. We have been studying grammar together for a
week (and we are still studying it now).
 2. We’ve been discussing writing since last
Monday (and we’re still discussing it now).

11. 3. They have been talking all morning.
4. She has been working at that company for three
years.
5. What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
6. James has been teaching at the university since
June.
7. We have been waiting here for over two hours!
8. Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for
the last three days?
9. It has been raining all day. When will it stop?

12.  The event happened in the recent past; it is not
necessarily in progress now.
 We either use “recently” or “lately,” or we
mean recently or lately.
 Unlike in case 1, there is no mention of how
long the event has been happening (duration)
because the event is not in progress right now.

13.  Example 1: Arkan has been partying a lot lately.
Is he partying right this minute?
No.
 Compare this to:
 Arkan has been partying since 9 p.m. last night.
Is he partying right this minute?
Yes.
 Example 2: The cat has been eating a lot (lately). He’s so fat!
Is he eating right this minute?
No.
 Compare this to:
 The cat has been eating for 3 hours non-stop! Wow! He must be really hungry!
Is he eating right this minute?
Yes.

14. 3. I have been feeling really tired lately. I don’t know
why.
4. Nana has been watching too much television
lately. It’s affecting her sleep.
5. Have you been exercising lately? You look great!
6. A: What’s wrong with Charlotte?
B: I think that she has been feeling a little
depressed (lately).
7. Benita has not been practicing her English (lately).

15. I was gardening from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. I finished
gardening at 11 a.m. At 11:15, I walked into
the house and my hands were dirty. Diego saw
me in the house at 11:20 and noticed my hands
were dirty.
Diego: "Why are your hands so dirty, Holly?”
Holly: "I've been gardening. Excuse me while I go
and wash them."
 Was I still gardening when I saw Diego?
 No. The event had ended in the recent past.

16. PRESENT PERFECT
PROGRESSIVE
PRESENT PERFECT
1) Recent activity: to emphasize the recency of a past
activity. We often use “lately” or “recently.”
Example: She's been working hard recently.
2) Emphasis on the duration or length of an activity
Example: Jack has been painting for 4 hours (and
he’s still painting).
3) Recently finished activity with a present result
Example: I've been working in the garden, that's
why my hands are so dirty.
4) No difference in meaning. Often the present perfect
progressive and the present perfect can have the
same meaning. This is often the case with verbs
of living, occupation, or vocation)
Example: I've been living in Leghorn for 3 years.
OR I've lived in Leghorn for 3 years
1. Indefinite time in the past (experience).
Emphasis is on the completed action
at an indefinite time in the past.
Example: Susan's written 3 books (in her
life).
2. Emphasis on QUANTITY
Example: I've read 300 pages of Tom
Smith's latest book.
3. Duration from past to present (see #4 of
present perfect progressive)
Example: Peter has worked for that
company for 5 years.
Here is an excellent example of the difference between the two forms when referring
to duration of an activity as compared to quantity: He's been driving for 6 hours.
He's driven 320 miles.

17. If a verb is non-action and therefore non-progressive, it’s ALWAYS non-
progressive.
You can say:
I have known Farideh for 4 years.
But you cannot say:
I have been knowing Farideh for 4 years.
Why?
Mental verbs are non-progressive. NEVER!
You can say:
I have owned my car since 2007.
But you cannot say:
I have been owning my car since 2007.
Why?
Verbs of ownership are non-progressive. NEVER!