Present Perfect, Present Continuous, and Present Perfect Continuous

Question

Can anyone explain the differences between those three? it seems kinda confuse Thank you

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Here is a good resource on all the tenses: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Earthy?r=66

It is very helpful if you see them all together.

Present continuous (present time, an ongoing action) be + v-ing

What are you doing?
I am running.
He is playing.
We are singing.
They are studying.

Present perfect: have/has + past participle
It is an action that started in the past. It may or may not be finished:

What have you done today?
I have run 5K.
He has played a game of football.
We have sung lullabies to put the babies to sleep.
They have studied their English lessons.

Present perfect continuous have/has + been + v-ing

What have you been doing?
I have been running 5K every morning.
He has been playing football and winning every game.
We have been singing at the church on Sundays.
They have been studying for their final exams.

CalifJim · Answer

phucuong5415differences between those three?

You may as well include the simple present. You haven't said whether you're interested in the difference between the forms or the meanings.

Forms.

Present: He takes.
Present Continuous: He is taking.

Present Perfect: He has taken.
Present Perfect Continuous: He has been taking.
__________

Meanings.

Present: Habitual, repeated actions. States.
Present Continuous: On-going action. Planned future action.

Present Perfect: Life experiences. States that began in the past and continue to the present.
Present Perfect Continuous: Actions that began in the past and continue to the present.
__________

These just skim the surface. Only a few typical examples of each tense are given above. Give specific example sentences in your future posts. That makes it easier to show you the differences.

CJ

Present Perfect, Present Continuous, and Present Perfect Continuous

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