Present Perfect Continuous vs Present Perfect
Present perfect continuous and present perfect are two kinds of tenses that have to be understood with difference due to the fact that there is a clear difference between present perfect continuous and present perfect though they both comes under the present tense. Present perfect tense is used to speak about an action that is completed in the present. On the other hand, present perfect continuous tense is used to speak about how long something has continued up till now. Though these definitions seem simple enough many people find it difficult to decide whether an action should be in present perfect tense or the present perfect continuous tense when using English.
What is Present Perfect?
You have to use present perfect tense when you want to describe an action that just got over or completed as in the sentence given below.
It has rained in the morning.
You will understand from this sentence that the speaker was trying to say that it no longer rained.
Observe the two sentences given below.
He has given the book to his friend.
Jasmine has developed fever.
In the first sentence, the use of has in the present perfect tense suggests that the person gave the book to his friend not too long ago. In the same way, you get the idea that Jasmine developed fever not too long ago from the second sentence. This is the basic idea behind the usage of the present perfect tense. Also, if you observe how the present perfect tense is formed you will see that it follows the following formula.
Has / Have + Past participle of the given verb
What is Present Perfect Continuous?
On the other hand, present perfect continuous tense is used when the action is construed to be going on unabated as in the sentence given below.
It has been raining since the morning.
From this sentence, you get the idea that the rain has not stopped since the morning. It continues to rain from the morning. Look at the other examples for present perfect continuous tense that are given below.
He has been shouting for a long time.
She has been following him ever since he visited Francis.
In the first sentence, you get the idea that the person has not stopped shouting and he continues to do so till the speaker uttered so. In the second sentence, you get the idea that she did not stop following him ever since he visited Francis. Hence, you get the additional idea of ‘did not stop’ from the use of the present perfect continuous tense.
Moreover, the formula to construct present perfect continuous tense is as follows.
Has/ Have + been + verb + ing
What is the difference between Present Perfect Continuous and Present Perfect?
• You have to use present perfect tense when you want to describe an action that just got over or completed.
• Formula for constructing present perfect tense is Has / Have + Past participle of the given verb.
• On the other hand, present perfect continuous tense is used when the action is construed to be going on unabated.
• The formula for present perfect continuous tense is, Has/ Have + been + verb + ing.
These are the differences between present perfect tense and the present perfect continuous tense.