Present perfect continuous and simple (I have been doing and I have done)
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PRESENT PERFECT TENSE |
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Have / Has V3 Positive I / you / we / they have met He / she / it has met Negative I / you / we / they have not met He / she / it has not met Question Have I / you / we / they met? Has He / she / it met? |
TIME ADVERBS
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just yet already lately / recently so far / up to now / until now/ to date all my life to date over the past over the last during the past during the last for the last for the past several times all the week
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I have just seen your message. We have not checked the files yet. She has already sent the documents. We have not talked to her recently/ lately. They have watered seven fields so far. I have traveled all my life. Nobody has made an announcement to date. The company has made important changes over the past two months. During the last 50 years, the American population has shifted. |
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FOR ve SINCE USAGES |
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FOR |
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for two years for three hours for a while for five months |
It has rained for two hours. I have lived here for five years. |
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SINCE |
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since last year since August since 2019 since Middle Ages |
Her sister has lived there since 1987. |
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Since + Simple Past since I was born since I moved since we met since he started |
have / has +V3 since / ever since + V2 We have lived in this city ever since we were born. She hasn’t found a job since she graduated. |
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It is/It has been + a period of time + since + Simple Past/Present Perfect It is / has been two years since we moved. |
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This is the first/second, etc. time (that) + Present Perfect This is the first time I have eaten such a delicious meal. |
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This is + Superlative (that) + Present Perfect This is the best film I have ever watched. |
When we say ‘something has happened’, this is usually new information:
Ow! I’ve cut my finger.
The road is closed. There’s been an accident. (= There has been …)
Police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery.
When we use the present perfect, there is a connection with now. The action in the past has a result now:
Tom has lost his key. (= he doesn’t have it now)
He told me his name, but I’ve forgotten it. (= I can’t remember it now)
Sally is still here. She hasn’t gone out. (= she is here now)
I can’t find my bag. Have you seen it? (= do you know where it is now?)
Compare gone (to) and been (to):
James is on holiday. He has gone to Italy. (= he is there now or on his way there)
Amy is back home now. She has been to Italy. (= she has now come back)
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PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE |
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FORM Positive I / you / we / they have been playing He / she / it has been playing Negative I / you / we / they have not been playing He / she / it has not been playing Question Have I / you / we / they been playing? Has He / she / it been playing? |
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USAGES EXAMPLES |
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Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for the actions that started in the past and still continues. |
I have been waiting for you since two o’clock. They have been discussing it for an hour. |
It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining.
It’s been raining for two hours. (= It has been …)
We use the present perfect continuous in this way, especially with how long, for … and since … . The activity is still happening (as in this example) or has just stopped.
How long have you been learning English? (= you’re still learning English)
Ben is watching TV. He’s been watching TV all day.
Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you for the last half hour.
You can use the present perfect continuous for repeated actions:
Silvia is a very good tennis player. She’s been playing since she was eight.
Every morning they meet in the same cafe. They’ve been going there for years
PRESENT CONTINOUS TENSE / PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Hurry up! I am waiting for you. (not I am waiting for you for two hours.)
I have been waiting for you for two hours.
It is raining now.
It has been raining since yesterday.