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  • Present Perfect Simple: 

– Construction: have/has + past participle (-ed or irregular)

I´m not hungry. I have just eaten a burger.
Have you visited your grandmother lately?

– Uses:

1. Things that happened or not in the past which are connected to the present:

I haven’t had any coffee yet, so I can’t stop yawning!
I know the city very well. This is the third time I’ve visited it this year. 

2. Events that started in the past and are still true now:

I have lived in Spain since I was 8. It’s a lovely country, isn’t it?
It’s funny how kids nowadays have learnt how to use a smartphone so soon. 

– Considerations:
1. In many cases, the Present Perfect is used for recent events.
2. We can’t specify exactly when an event took place.


 

  • Present Perfect Continuous: 

– Construction: have/has + been + gerund (-ing)

You’re sweating! Have you been doing exercise?
I
have been studying English since I was a kid. 

– Uses:  the uses are similar, but there is a focus on the fact that an action has been happening over a period of time.

1. Things that happened or not in the past which are connected to the present:

I haven’t been studying much lately, so I’ll probably fail the exam. 

2. Events that started in the past and are still true now:

I have been living in Spain for years now, and I still think it’s great.

 


 

  • Simple or Continuous?

– In many cases, both the Present Perfect Simple and Continuous can be used with hardly any change in meaning:

I have lived in England since 2010.
I have been living in England since 2010.

– If we focus on the result of an action, we should use the Present Perfect Simple:

I’ve cooked your favourite meal. I hope you like it!

– If we focus on the progress of an action, we should use the Present Perfect Continuous:

I’ve been cooking all morning, without a break.

– If we want to emphasise that an action is finished, we should use the Present Perfect Simple

I´m good to go! I’ve already finished all my homework. 

– If we want to emphasise that an action is not finished, we should use the Present Perfect Continuous:

You should stop now. You’ve been playing that game non-stop since this morning.

 


 

  • Typical adverbs & prepositions:

– Adverbs: just, already, yet

I have just been to the shop. (very recent action)
She has already finished her degree. (sooner than expected)
We haven’t decided yet. (until now – negative sentence)
Have you read that book yet? (until now – interrogative sentence)

– Prepositions: since, for

I’ve known him for a decade. (for + period of time)
I’ve known him since we met at that party. (since + moment in time)

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