What's the difference

We've talked about perfect progressive vs perfect a number of times now, PJ. How about your trying to identify the difference first? Let me know what you think (or feel) about the two.

Mister MicawberWe've talked about perfect progressive vs perfect a number of times now, PJ. How about your trying to identify the difference first? Let me know what you think (or feel) about the two.

The first one means that someone's been paying for it up until now. And the second one is asking who paid for the past few times?

But I think there mi

The first one means that someone's been paying for it up until now. And the second one is asking who paid for the past few times?-- You're on the right track: the first one at least makes a greater suggestion that the person will continue to pay for it.

But I think there might be something wrong with the first sentence.-- No, nothing is wrong with it at all. The progressive a

Mister MicawberThe first one means that someone's been paying for it up until now. And the second one is asking who paid for the past few times?-- You're on the right track: the first one at least makes a greater suggestion that the person will continue to pay for it.

But I think there might be something wrong with the first sentence.-- No, nothing is wrong wit

The point is that the speaker likely thinks the payments will continue.

If that's the case then:

I've been living in London for the past few years. <----most likely will continue to live in london.

And

I've lived in London for the past few years. <---- Might leave London soon???

Seems like the two tenses are identical...no?

You cannot place such specific codicils onto statements without that context, but the first indicates that the speaker is likely still living there, while the second does not indicate that.