The Present Perfect Simple and Continuous both describe the period to the present, a period that started in the past and continues now. Here is an explanation of the grammar and how to choose between the two tenses.

1. Period to the
present
Present Perfect
Simple and
Continuous

2. A: I’ve lived in Rome for 20 years.

3. A: I’ve lived in Rome for 20 years.
Where does ‘A’ live now?

4. A: I’ve lived in Rome for 20 years.
Before coming to Rome,
I lived in London.

5. A: I’ve lived in Rome for 20 years.
Before coming to Rome,
I lived in London.

6. Present Perfect
A: I’ve lived in Rome for 20 years.
Before coming to Rome,
I lived in London.
Past Simple

7. open period
A: I’ve lived in Rome for 20 years.
Before coming to Rome,
I lived in London.
closed period

8. this grammar is only about
defining the duration of periods

9. for other meanings of
the Present Perfect, eg.
Have you ever been to Paris?
I’ve lost my keys.
Someone’s been eating my sandwich.
see your grammar book

10. 1983 1993 now
10 years 20 years

11. I lived in London for 10 years.
between 1983 and 1993.
from 1983 to 1993.
until / till / ’til 1993.
until I came to Rome.

12. I’ve lived in Rome for 20 years.
since 1993.
since I left London.

13. 1983 1993 now
10 years 20 years

14. 1983 1993 now
I came to I left I came to
London London Rome
10 years 20 years
London Rome

15. 1st RULE
Use the Present Perfect to define
the length of an open period.
Use the Past Simple to define the
length of a closed period.

16. ?ive: How long have you lived in
Rome?
?ive: How long did you live in London?

17. -ive: I haven’t seen Gianni since
Thursday.
but: I last saw Gianni on Thursday.

18. 1st RULE – in translation
Italian uses the Presente for open periods.
And it uses the Passato Prossimo for closed
periods.
BE CAREFUL: this can cause some confusion!

19. I’ve lived in Rome Presente for open
for 20 years. periods.
I lived in London Passato Prossimo for
for 10 years. closed periods.

20. I’ve lived in Rome Vivo a Roma
=
for 20 years. da 20 anni.
I lived in London Ho vissuto a Londra
=
for 10 years. per 10 anni.

21. I’ve lived in Rome Vivo a Roma
=
for 20 years. da 20 anni.
I lived in London Ho vissuto a Londra
=
for 10 years. per 10 anni.

22. prepositions
and 1 adverb

23. now
from to since
for for

24. da a da
now
from to since
for for
per da

25. She has lived in Rome for 30 years.

26. She has lived in Rome for 30 years.
BUT
She has always lived in Rome.
She has lived in Rome all her life.

27. She has lived in Rome for 30 years.
BUT
She has always lived in Rome.
She has lived in Rome all her life.
NOT for all her life

28. omit for before
always and all
She has always lived in Rome.
She has lived in Rome all her life.

29. translate the following sentences
Sono studente a Roma Tre.
Sono studente a Roma Tre da cinque anni.
Sono studente a Roma Tre dal 2007.
Vivo qui da quando sono venuto a Roma.
Sono sposati da diversi settimane.
Abbiamo studiate dalle 18:00 a mezzanotte.
È in ospedale da mercoledì.
Ero in Italia da gennaio a maggio.
Non fumo da quando ho deciso di smettere.
Siamo qui da 6 ore.
Dal inizio della storia usiamo acque come una risorsa.

30. translate the following sentences
Sono studente a Roma Tre. I am …
Sono studente a Roma Tre da cinque anni. I’ve been … for …
Sono studente a Roma Tre dal 2007. I’ve been … since …
Vivo qui da quando sono venuto a Roma. I’ve lived here since …
Sono sposati da diversi settimane. They’ve been married for …
Abbiamo studiate dalle 18:00 a mezzanotte. We studied from .. to …
È in ospedale da mercoledì. He/She has been … since …
Ero in Italia da gennaio a maggio. I was … from ... to
Non fumo da quando ho deciso di smettere. I haven’t smoked since I decided…
Siamo qui da 6 ore. We’ve been here for …
Dal inizio della storia usiamo acque come una risorsa. Since … we have used ..

31. put prepositions into the spaces for since from to until between
She worked there ______ 12 years.
He has worked here ______ 12 years.
We were on holiday ______ June and September.
They were in the office ______ 10am ______ 6pm.
I’ve been in the office ______ 10am.
The team haven’t played together ______ the end of the season.
I studied ______ 3am.
I studied ______ my friend arrived.
I’ve wanted one of these ______ I first saw one.
I’ve wanted one ______ all year.
We’ve studied this ______ hours.

32. put prepositions into the spaces for since from to until between
She worked there for 12 years.
He has worked here for 12 years.
We were on holiday between June and September.
They were in the office from 10am to 6pm.
I’ve been in the office since 10am.
The team haven’t played together since the end of the season.
I studied until 3am.
I studied until my friend arrived.
I’ve wanted one of these since I first saw one.
I’ve wanted one - all year.
We’ve studied this for hours.

33. Present Perfect
Continuous

34. form

35. He has been drinking.

36. 1 2 3
He has been drinking.

37. 1. ‘to have’
auxiliary
in present:
have / has
He has been drinking.

38. 2. ‘to be’
auxiliary
past participle:
been
He has been drinking.

39. 3. main verb
present participle:
—ing
He has been drinking.

40. period to the present

41. It’s been raining for 3 hours.

42. It started raining 3 hours ago
It’s been raining for 3 hours.

43. It started raining 3 hours ago
and it’s still raining now
It’s been raining for 3 hours.

44. this is the same concept as the
Present Perfect Simple

45. I live in Rome (present duration)

46. I live in Rome (present duration)
+ for 20 years (period)

47. I live in Rome (present duration)
+ for 20 years (period)
= I’ve lived in Rome for 20 years
(present perfect)

48. It’s raining (present duration)

49. It’s raining (present duration)
+ for 3 hours (period)

50. It’s raining (present duration)
+ for 3 hours (period)
= It’s been raining for 3 hours
(present perfect continuous)

51. the Present Perfect Simple
describes longer,
more permanent
periods

52. the Present Perfect Continuous
describes shorter,
more temporary
periods

53. Present Perfect Simple
vs.
Present Perfect Continuous

54. 1. state verbs

55. I know her.

56. I know her.
-- how long --

57. I know her.
+ only 5 minutes

58. I’ve only known her
for 5 minutes.

59. I’ve only known her
for 5 minutes.
short
temporary
period

60. ‘simple’
anyway
I’ve only known her
for 5 minutes.

61. state verbs never
used in continuous
tenses
I’ve only known her
for 5 minutes.

62. 2. long period

63. She works at IBM.

64. She works at IBM.
-- how long --

65. She works at IBM.
+ 10 years

66. She’s worked at IBM
for 10 years.

67. She’s worked at IBM
for 10 years.
long
permanent
period

68. ‘simple’
for long period
She’s worked at IBM
for 10 years.

69. BUT
She’s been working at IBM
for 10 years.

70. in spoken English
the ‘continuous’ is
also possible
She’s been working at IBM
for 10 years.

71. 3. short periods

72. We’re waiting

73. We’re waiting
-- how long --

74. We’re waiting
+ 15 minutes

75. We’ve been waiting
for 15 minutes.

76. We’ve been waiting
for 15 minutes.
short
temporary
period

77. ‘continuous’
for short period
We’ve been waiting
for 15 minutes.

78. summary

79. state verbs long periods short periods
present I know her. She works at IBM. We’re waiting.
‘simple’ I’ve known her She’s worked at IBM -
for 5 minutes. for 10 years.
‘continuous’ - (She’s been working We’ve been waiting
at IBM for 10 years.) for 15 minutes.

80. it’s the present tense verb that
decides

81. state verbs long periods short periods
present I know her. She works at IBM. We’re waiting.
‘simple’ I’ve known her She’s worked at IBM -
for 5 minutes. for 10 years.
‘continuous’ - (She’s been working We’ve been waiting
at IBM for 10 years.) for 15 minutes.

82. put these sentences in present perfect simple or continuous
I [study] economics ___ 3 years.
He [always like] Pink Floyd.
It [snow] ___ 10 o’clock.
How long [you wait]?
They [play] ___ 40 minutes.
She [work] as a waitress ___ she left school.
We [say] that ___ ages.
She [live] the same house ___ all her life.
They [live] together ___ 1995.
I [listen] to music ___ all day.
He [not sleep] well ___ he lost his job.

83. put these sentences in present perfect simple or continuous
I [study] economics ___ 3 years. I’ve been studying … for …
He [always like] Pink Floyd. He’s always liked …
It [snow] ___ 10 o’clock. It’s been snowing since …
How long [you wait]? How long have you been waiting?
They [play] ___ 40 minutes. They’ve been playing for …
She [work] as a waitress ___ she left school. She’s been working … since …
We [say] that ___ ages. We’ve been saying … for …
She [live] the same house ___ all her life. She’s lived … for …
They [live] together ___ 1995. They’ve lived … since …
I [listen] to music ___ all day. I’ve been listening … for …
He [not sleep] well ___ he lost his job. He hasn’t been sleeping … since …

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