Lesson 62: Unit 117 - Present Perfect Progressive Tense. Present Perfect Tense.
This lesson looks at the difference between the Present Perfect Simple and the Present Perfect Progressive — when we emphasise the completed result and when the duration of the action.
About this lesson
In this lesson you will learn when to use the Present Perfect Simple and when the Present Perfect Progressive in English. You will understand that the Present Perfect Simple puts the emphasis on the completed result, while the Present Perfect Progressive highlights the duration of the action. You will practise both tenses through real dialogues — in a dentist's waiting room and in a restaurant. You will learn to ask questions with "How long" and to build sentences following a model.
40 minutes
What you'll learn
- Distinguish the use of the Present Perfect Simple from the Present Perfect Progressive
- Use the Present Perfect Progressive to express the duration of an action
- Use the Present Perfect Simple for a completed result or a quantity
- Ask questions with 'How long' + Present Perfect Progressive
- Recognise state verbs (know, like, love), which are not used in continuous tenses
- Build sentences following the model 'has/have been doing ... but hasn't/haven't done ... yet'
Lesson vocabulary
- to work I've been working here for two years.
- to live I've been living here since January.
- to write I've been writing that e-mail to Melissa, and it's taken me an hour.
- exhausted I've been writing that e-mail to Melissa, and it's taken me an hour. I'm exhausted.
- to drop in I have just dropped in on the off-chance of seeing someone.
- toothache Yes, it's been giving me trouble for over a week now.
- filling I've lost a filling so it needs replacing.
- receptionist I've already given it to the receptionist.
- to order Nobody has taken our order yet.
- to notice I don't know if he has even noticed us.
- direction He hasn't looked in our direction once.
- to save up My sister has been saving up to buy a car.
- to look forward to I have been looking forward to seeing it for ages.
- to study I've been studying all day, and I haven't finished yet.
- to rob Someone has robbed the bank at the end of the road.
In other languages: Български