Page 4 - A WORKING LIFE E BOOK (TUGAS DIKLAT EBOOK)

GRAMMAR : PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE VS CONTINUOUS

Look at these examples to see how Present Perfect Simple and Continuous are used.

I’ve been working at Burger Barn for two months
I’ve learned a lot about how to work with all kinds of people
I’ve been doing a paper round since last year
I’ve bought myself a computer

GRAMMAR EXPLANATION

We use both the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous to talk about past
actions or states which are still connected to the present.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

(+) S + HAVE/HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE (+) S + HAVE/HAS + BEEN + -ING FORM
(-) S + HAVE/HAS + NOT + PAST PARTICIPLE (-) S + HAVE/HAS + NOT + BEEN + -ING FORM
(YES/NO?) HAVE/HAS + S + PAST PARTICIPLE ....? (YES/NO?) HAVE/HAS + S + BEEN + -ING FORM ... ?
(WHQ) WHQ + HAVE/HAS + S + PAST PARTICIPLE (WHQ?) WHQ + HAVE/HAS + S + BEEN + -ING
....? FORM ... ?

Focuses on the result Focuses on the activity
You've cleaned the bathroom! It looks lovely! I've been gardening. It's so nice out there.

Says 'how many' Says 'how long'
She's read ten books this summer. She's been reading that book all day.

Describes a completed action Describes an activity which may continue
I've written you an email I've been writing emails

When we can see evidence of recent activity
The grass looks wet. Has it been raining?
I know, I'm really red. I've been running!

ENGLISH E-BOOK : A WORKING LIFE 3