Compare The Present Perfect Tense Present Perfect Progresive by Henry Rowley

Let's start with the "perfect present" that is equivalent to the perfect tense in Spanish.

henryrowley13 — 2018-07-20 23:37:54 UTC


Training:
It is formed with the auxiliary verb "have" followed by the



- I studied all the irregular verbs in English. (affirmative)
- Studied all irregular verbs in English.

- I have not studied all the irregular verbs in English, I will not pass the exam! (negative form)
- I have not studied all the irregular verbs in English.

- Have you studied all the irregular verbs in English? (interrogative form)
- Have you studied all the irregular verbs in English?

henryrowley13 — 2018-07-20 23:38:56 UTC

Use:
We use this time for actions that have taken place in the recent past, or that continue or have some consequence in the present.

For example:

- I have lived in Melbourne since I was 12. (Now I am 30 and still live in Melbourne).
- I've lived in Melbourne since I was 12 years old. (Now I'm 30 and I'm still living in Melbourne)

- I have lost my keys so I can not get into my apartment. (I have lost the keys in the past but the consequences are in the present: I can not get into my house now).
- I lost my keys so I can not enter my apartment. (I have lost the keys in the past but the consequences are in the present: I can not enter my apartment now).

he "present perfect continuous" (perfect continuous present) is equivalent to the construction "estar + gerundio (-ando / -iendo)" in Spanish.

henryrowley13 — 2018-07-20 23:40:39 UTC

Training:
It is formed with the auxiliary "have" followed by "been", followed by the main verb ending in -ing.

 

- I have been studying English for many years. (affirmative)
- I have been studying English for many years.

- I have not been watching TV. (negative form)
- I have not been watching TV.

- Have you been studying for the exam? (interrogative form)
- Have you been studying for the exam?

henryrowley13 — 2018-07-20 23:42:19 UTC

Use:
We use this time to talk about a past, recent action that continues in the present. With this time we emphasize that the action was prolonged in time, that is, we put the emphasis on the continuity of the action.

When do we use one and when does the other?

henryrowley13 — 2018-07-20 23:44:05 UTC

The difference between one time and the other lies in where we put the emphasis. If what matters is that the action occurred in the recent past or has some consequence in the present, we use the "present perfect", but if what we want to highlight is that the action has continued in the time to the present, we would use the "present perfect continuous".

Remember!

Present Perfect Present Perfect Continuous
(+) Subject + "have / has" + participle (+) Subject + "have / has" + been + verb in -ing
(-) Subject + "have not / has not" + participle (-) Subject + "have not / has not" + been + verb in -ing
(?) "Have / Has" + subject + participle (?) "Have / Has" + subject + "been" + verb in -ing