Present perfect

Question

I want to  know the difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

One difference is that with present perfect continuous the action is always continuing into the present.

I have been watching him for 3 hours. (She is still watching him now.)

I have watched him for 3 hours. (This may be a recently-concluded activity.)

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI want to know the difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous

1. For many stative verbs (the "non-progressives"), only the present perfect is possible.

I have known about this for years.
*I have been knowing about this for years.
_____________

2. Where both tenses are available, the perfect may imply one occurrence of an action while the perfect continuous may imply intermittent multiple occurences.

I have visited China.
I have been visiting China for the last 15 years.

I have read Shakespeare's plays.
I have been reading Shakespeare's plays for the last 10 years.
______________

3. Or the perfect may imply one occurrence in the past while the perfect continuous may imply continuous activity from the past up to the present moment.

I have read one of Shakespeare's plays.
I have been reading one of Shakespeare's plays.

I have worked as an actor.
I have been working as an actor.
_______________

4. With some verbs, the continuous form implies that the action of the verb is gradually coming about, though it has not come about completely yet, which the non-continuous form implies.

The economy of that country has failed.
The economy of that country has been failing.

Louise has finished her first novel.
Louise has been finishing her first novel.

CJ

English 1b3 · Answer

Nice post, CJ.

Present perfect

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