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Luyện ngữ pháp - English Grammar in Use - Intermediate (Unit 10: Present perfect continuous and simple)


Present perfect continuous and simple

A

Study this example situation:

There is paint on Kate's clothes.
She has been painting her bedroom.

Has been painting is the present perfect continuous.

We are thinking of the activity. lt does not matter whether it has been finished or not. In this example, the activity (painting the bedroom) has not been finished.

 Her bedroom was green. Now it is yellow.
She has painted her bedroom.

Has painted is the present perfect simple.

Here, the important thing is that something has been finished . Has painted is a completed action. We are interested in the result of the activity (the painted bedroom), not the activity itself.
 
B

Compare these examples:

- My hands are very dirty. I've been repairing my bike. - My bike is OK again now. I've repaired it.
- Joe has been eating too much recently. He should eat less. - Somebody has eaten all the chocolates. The box is empty.
- It's nice to see you again. What have you been doing since we last met? - Where's the book I gave you? What have you done with it?
- Where have you been? Have you been playing tennis? - Have you ever played tennis?
C
We use the continuous to say how long (for something that is still happening): We use the simple to say how much, how many or how many times:
- How long have you been reading that book? - How much of that book have you read?
- Lisa is writing emails. She's been writing emai ls all morning. - Lisa is writing emails. She's sent lots of emails this morning.
- They've been playing tennis since 2 o'clock. - They've played tennis three times this week.
- I'm learning Arabic, but I haven't been learning it very long. - I'm learning Arabic, but I haven't learnt very much yet.
 
D Some verbs (for example, know/like/believe) are not normally used in the continuous:
  • I've known about the problem for a long time. (not I've been knowing)
  • How long have you had that camera? (not have you been having)

For a list of these verbs, see Unit 4A. For have, see Unit 17.
But note that you can use want and mean in the present perfect continuous:
  • I've been meaning to phone Jane, but I keep forgetting.
Exercises - 10.1


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