Present perfect vs present perfect continuous

Question

Could you please tell if there is an easy and clear way to show the differnce between the use of the present perfect and that of the present perfect continuous to my students (non-native students).
Thank you.

Swampbearfl · Accepted Answer

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfectcontinuous.html

I hope that helps. I am a speaker of English, not a teacher!

--Stephen

Swampbearfl · Answer

The basic differance is that PP-continuous is an ongoing thing.  Something that started in the past and is still happening.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Make some comparisons like this one:

I have been studying English for three years, but I am not fluent. (Implication: English is difficult, but I persist in my studies so that I will improve.)

I have studied English for three years, but I am not fluent. (Implication: In the past, I studied English, and I might have stopped studying. That's why I am not fluent.)

I studied English for three years, but I am not fluent. (Implication: In the past - probably years ago - I studied English, but I stopped. That's why I am not fluent.)

CalifJim · Answer

mokhtar.jouiniCould you please tell if there is an easy and clear way to show the differnce between the use of the present perfect and that of the present perfect continuous to my students (non-native students).

I would start by selecting cases where the difference is easiest to see, for example, when the present perfect reports an experience and the continuous form reports multiple occurrences of that experience over a period of time that extends to the present moment.

Have you ever seen an opera?

Yes, I have seen an opera.

In fact, I have been seeing operas since I was 20 years old.
(Only the continuous allows the use of the since clause because the seeing of an opera is re-experienced again and again -- though not the same opera. Note the plural operas, typical with the continuous form.)

Has Chuck ever played a video game?
Yes, Chuck has played a video game.
In fact, Chuck has been playing video games since he was in high school.

Similarly with:
eaten a brownie, roasted a chicken, spent a day at the beach, cashed a check, bought a CD, failed an exam

Show the difference with diagrams when presenting sentences of the type shown above.

0 - the moment of speaking.
x - the experience(s)

--------------x------------------------0 Present perfect.
-----x-x------x ------x--x------x---0 Present perfect continuous.
_____________________________________________

If you are not talking about an experience, but about a process, the difference between the continuous and the non-continuous forms needs another explanation. In this case it's a matter of whether the action is complete.

The workmen have destroyed the building. There is nothing left of it.

The workmen have been destroying the building. Soon there will be nothing left of it.

Dan has read that book. He finished it last week.

Dan has been reading that book. He will probably finish it next week.

Similarly with:
fixed the fence, written his first novel, built the dog house, redecorated her apartment, planted the beans, resurfaced the streets in our town

The diagram:

0 - the moment of speaking
x - the process in action

( ) - the beginning and end of the process

( xxxxxxxxxxxx ) ----- 0 Present perfect. Action complete.

( xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 0 xxxxx) Present perfect continuous. Action not complete.

_______________

This is only the starting point. You will have to present other uses of these tenses as well.
The subtleties are innumerable! Note the use of the indefinite and definite articles, the use of singular and plural objects, and the time scope of the events and actions described. They all affect the meaning of these tenses.

I've been planting beans since I was 12 years old. [multiple experiences]

vs.
I've been planting beans since 9 this morning. [unfinished action in progress]

___________________

And don't forget to remind your students that the continuous form is not even possible for the non-progressive verbs like contain, own, know, etc.

And that reminds me. The continuous form is rarely possible for situations where some instantaneous change is described.

has broken his leg, but hardly has been breaking his leg.
has been killed, but hardly has been being killed.
has slipped and fallen, but hardly has been slipping and falling.

Unless the "multiple experiences" interpretation is possible:

My great grandmother has been slipping and falling far too often. It's time to think about getting a nurse to attend her.

CJ

Present perfect vs present perfect continuous

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