Instructions
As you watch the video, look at the examples of present perfect simple and continuous. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, present perfect simple and continuous correctly.
Transcript
Amy: So is your mum home?
Daisy: No, she’s not. She’s … Oliver? Where’s Mum? I’ve forgotten.
Oliver: In Dubai. She’s been writing about the architecture there.
Daisy: Ah, yeah. She’s been travelling so much recently. I never remember where she is. Why? What were you going to ask her?
Amy: Oh, nothing much. My Chinese teacher has given me some homework to interview ‘an interesting person’, and translate it into Chinese for Monday. And your mum’s been writing her blog for years now, hasn’t she? She’s already visited lots of places, and hasn’t she won some awards?
Daisy: She’s only won one. But yeah, she won a big award earlier this year. Anyway, Oliver’s just made some cake. Do you want some? Mum’ll probably call soon. And if she doesn’t, you can interview Oliver!
Amy: Oliver? Your brother, Oliver???
Daisy: Yeah, why not? He’s going to be a master chef, you know. He’s been learning to make amazing food and he’s been practising his baking too. And he’s travelled loads!
Amy: OK, you’ve convinced me!
Daisy: Hi! How’s Dubai?
Sophie: Fine, it’s good. There’s a constant mist of desert sand, but it’s an interesting place. Particularly considering the city has only really been here a couple of decades. It was a port for a long time before, but the modern city of Dubai is new.
Daisy: What have you seen so far?
Sophie: Well, I’ve been in the Burj Khalifa – the tallest building – the one in that film with Tom Cruise. It’s incredible! And I’ve eaten at the Burj Al Arab too! That’s the hotel that looks like a yacht sail. It is so luxurious! I haven’t been to the palm tree island yet, that’s tomorrow.
Daisy: Have you bought any souvenirs? A Ferrari?
Sophie: Ha! No, I haven’t had time yet but I’ll bring you something, even if it’s only sand!
We use the present perfect simple (have/has + past participle) or present perfect continuous (have/has + been + -ing) to talk about a state or an activity that has a link to the present.
Oh, the present perfect! It’s quite tricky!
Well, no, it’s quite logical, but it does have different uses. We often use present perfect for talking about something which happened in the past which is important now.
My Chinese teacher has given me some homework. (= I have the homework to do now.)
I’ve forgotten. (= I can’t remember now.)
She’s broken her leg. (= Her leg is still broken now.)
We also use present perfect with just for talking about a recent action.
Oliver’s just made a cake.
So that’s important now because I could have some cake?
Yes, that could be the reason. But with just for recent actions we usually use present perfect, anyway.
OK, but why can’t I say ‘Ollie’s been making a cake’?
You could, but then the focus would be more on the action rather than the result. Maybe you are explaining why the kitchen is in a mess. We use the present perfect simple more when there is a result in the present (like the cake) and the present perfect continuous more when the action is important.
Umm, OK. So you would say ‘She’s been travelling a lot recently.’
Exactly. Because we’re more interested in the action than the result.
Is the present perfect only used for recent events?
No, not at all. We also use it for life experiences which happened at any time in the past. The person’s life, which continues in the present, is the link to the present.
She’s won an award.
Sophie has been to Berlin before.
So, she could have been to Berlin last month or ten years ago?
Exactly, we don’t know when and it isn’t important. If you wanted to say when, you would have to use the past simple: ‘Sophie went to Berlin ten years ago.’
We also use the present perfect for actions or states that are unfinished.
Your mum’s been writing her blog for years now, hasn’t she?
She is still writing the blog now, so the action isn’t complete.
Could I say ‘She’s written her blog for years’?
No. We usually use the present perfect continuous for talking about the length of time something goes on for, with phrases like for years, for a long time, etc.
What about using still, already and yet?
We use already to talk about something which has been done, and usually this is surprising to the speaker.
Wow, that was quick! You’ve finished your homework already.
Yet is mainly used in questions and negatives to talk about something which hasn’t happened, but which you thought would happen in the past and you expect to happen in the future.
I haven’t had time yet.
Have you seen her new blog yet?
We use still to talk about something which is going on longer than you expect.
They’ve been doing things with that computer for ages, but they still haven’t fixed it.
OK, I feel like I’ve been understanding more about the present perfect today.
Oh, sorry, you can’t say ‘I’ve been understanding’. Do you remember when we looked at the present continuous? There are certain verbs, called state verbs, which we don’t usually use in the continuous form – verbs for talking about emotions, thinking, existing, appearing, possession and the senses.
Oh, yes. You gave me a list of them.
That’s right, they’re in the Grammar Snack on the present continuous.
Right, I’ll look at them again. Well, we’ve been talking for ages …
For a few minutes!
Yes, but I’ve learned a lot.
Excellent – you used present perfect continuous with a length of time and present perfect simple with a result!
What have you been doing today?
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