Page 479 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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present perfect (5): simple or progressive? non-progressive verbs
Some verbs are not used in progressive forms (see 471), even if the meaning is one for which a progressive form is more suitable. Common examples are be, have and know.
John's been ill all week. (NOT John's been being iU ...)
She's had a cold since Monday. (NOT She's been hailing a eoltl . ..)
I've ollly known her for two days. (NOT rile only been IfflBlfling het' ...)
temporary or permanent
We use progressive forms mostly for shorter, temporary actions and situations. When we talk about longer-lasting or permanent situations we often prefer the simple present perfect. Compare:
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present perfect (6): present perfect or present? how long? present perfect
We use a present perfect to say how long a situation or action has continued up to now. Compare:
- /t's raining again.
It's been raining since Christmas. (NOT H's raining since Christmas.)
- Are you learning English?
How long have you been learning? (NOT HBW lent: are 16ft learning?) ~ page 447
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Progressive and simple tenses are sometimes both possible, with a slight difference of emphasis.
It's been raining I /t's rained steadily since last Saturday.
Harry has been working I has worked in the same job for thirty years. We generally use the progressive to talk about continuous change or development, even if this is permanent.
Scientists believe that the universe has been expanding steadily since the beginning o f time.
h o w much? h o w offen? simple present perfect
We use the simple present perfect to say how much we have done, or how often we have done something. Compare:
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-
-
That man has been standing on the corner all day.
For 900 years the castle has stood on the hill above the village. [haven't been working very well recently.
He hasn't worked for years.
I've been living in Sue's flat for the last month.
My parents have lived in Bristol all their lives.
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I've been planting rose buslzes all afternoon.
Look at all the rose bushes I've planted! (NOT ••• tile been planting.) We've been painting the house.
We've painted two rooms since lunchtime. (NOT VIe'lie been paitUing tw6
1YJBf1tS since EttnCl'ztime.)
I've been playing a lot o f tennis recently. I've played tennis three times this week.
present perfect (6): present perfect or present? 460