Difference Between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

Though the both fall under the Present tense, there is a difference between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous that should be understood by the learners. Without understanding this difference perfectly, one cannot use the English language accurately. There are three main tenses in the English language. They are the present tense, past tense and the future tense. Under present tense, there are four tenses. They are namely, simple present, present continuous, present perfect and present perfect continuous. Among these tenses, this article attempts to explain to you the difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous.

What is Present Perfect?

First of all, let us see how the verb is constructed in present perfect tense.

Has/ Have + past participle of the given verb

As you can see present perfect tense takes the auxiliary verb have in its usage. Have is used with plural subjects while has is used with singular subjects. Look at the following example.

I have completed the work.

We have arranged the books.

She has opened a window.

You can observe how both I and We as plural subjects use have as the helping verb while the singular subject she uses has.

It is important to know that present perfect tense indicates that something has just happened as in the sentence given below.

I have joined duty in the morning.

Present perfect tense is used to talk about events or about past actions that are completely finished. Observe the following sentences.

I could not go to the stadium because I have broken my leg.

The government has declared Monday a holiday.

In both the sentences given above, present perfect tense is used to talk about actions that are over at the time of speaking. In the first sentence, you get the idea that the leg was already broken and in the second sentence, you get the idea that Monday was already declared a holiday.

What is Present Perfect Continuous?

The present perfect continuous, on the other hand, indicates that something has been happening. This is especially true at the time of speaking as in the following example.

It has been raining since morning.

It is understood that the rain has not stopped at the time of speaking.

Then, let us have a look at how present perfect continuous tense is formed. The formula is given below.

Has/ Have + been + present participle of the given verb (or you can say verb+ing)

Observe the following sentences.

She has been waiting for the bus since 8.00 o’ clock.

They have been learning English since they were three.

The present perfect continuous tense, on the other hand, describes an action that was happening at regular intervals at the time of speaking. Have a look at the following example.

I have been reading some of Tennyson’s poetry.

From this sentence, you get the idea that the person was reading Tennyson’s poetry at regular intervals though he was not reading at the time of speaking.

What is the difference between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous?

• The formula for present perfect tense is Has/ have + past participle of the given verb.

• The formula for present perfect continuous tense is Has/ have been + present participle of the given verb.

• Present perfect tense indicates that something has just happened. The present perfect continuous, on the other hand, indicates that something has been happening. This is the main difference between present perfect tense and the present perfect continuous tense.

• Present perfect tense is used to talk about events or about past actions that are completely finished.

• The present perfect continuous tense, on the other hand, describes an action that was happening at regular intervals at the time of speaking.

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