Marmara Elt Resources

English Grammar-Present Perfect Progressive Tense

The present perfect progressive expresses the meaning until now and makes the connection between the past and present. Since it is progressive, it usually connotes an idea of continuity. It is often used with prepositional phrases: for + amount of time and since + point in time.

I have been living in Istanbul since 1999.

I have been living in Minneapolis for three years.

The present perfect progressive tense is made by placing have been (or has been) immediately in front of the -ing form of the main verb.

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Past Simple or Present Perfect?

Present Perfect 4 - Past Simple or Present Perfect?

Choosing whether to use the Present Perfect or Past Simple usually depends on whether a definite or indefinite time is used. If a definite past time is used, use the Past Simple, and if there is no time given use the Present Perfect. Examples below are split into two groups, single events and multiple events.

Single Events

- I went to America in March. - This sentence has a definite past time, so the Past Simple is used.
- I’ve been to America. - Here the time is not important, what is important is the fact I went.

- I read this book last week. - Last week I started and finished this book.
- I’ve read this book. - Here also the time is not important, what is important is the fact I’ve already read the book.

The Present Perfect can however be used with a period of time that isn’t finished yet. For example:
- I’ve been to the doctor today. - Today is not finished, so this is correct.
- I went to the doctor today. - This is also correct, a statement about a past action.
- I’ve been to the doctor yesterday. - This is incorrect, yesterday is a finished period of time that does not continue into the present so we cannot use the present perfect here.

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Exercise 1.

Fill the gaps with either the present perfect or the past simple.

1.  Renee _______________ (catch) the plane to Mexico at 10 o´clock this morning.

2.  Who _______________ (invent) the Internet?

3.  Steve _______________(be) very depressed since he ______________ (lose) his job two months ago. Read the rest of this entry »