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Language reference

5IF QSFTFOU QFSGFDU UFOTFT Have you seen any good fi lms lately?
England has only won the World Cup once so far.
The present perfect tense is used: (/PUF this use of the present perfect is typical in British
t to describe an action that happened at an unspecifi ed English. In American English, the past simple may be
time in the past up to now: used: Did you see any good fi lms lately? England only
They’ve recorded a lot of albums. won the World Cup once so far.)
Have you ever visited Berlin? I’ve been cleaning the house this morning.
t to describe a past action when the emphasis is on the Compare: I cleaned the house this morning. (It’s now the
result in the present: afternoon.)
Someone’s stolen my phone! (It’s not here now.) t with for or since to describe an activity or state that
I’ve told Tim about tomorrow’s rehearsal. (He knows started in the past and is still continuing in the present:
about it). She’s lived in Spain for nearly ten years.
It’s no wonder you’re tired – you’ve been working so They’ve known each other since they were children.
hard! He’s been driving for three hours,
t typically with time adverbs that connect the past to the The present perfect simple and continuous are sometimes
present, e.g. just, already, lately, so far, up to now, yet, interchangeable, although we only use the simple form
today (when it is still the same day), this morning (when it with state verbs. However, note the differences in the table
is still the same morning): below.

1SFTFOU QFSGFDU TJNQMF 1SFTFOU QFSGFDU DPOUJOVPVT

emphasises the result: emphasises the activity:
I’ve phoned my friends and they’re coming to the party. I’ve been phoning my friends. That’s why I haven’t done my
homework.
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often describes an action that is now completed: shows that an activity has continued for a period of time and
may mean that it is still continuing:

We’ve bought some food for the weekend. (It’s in the We’ve been buying most of our food at the market lately.
kitchen now).
Working conditions have improved a lot. (They’re much Working conditions have been improving since the new
better now). manager took over. (They’re in the process of getting better.)

says how much has been completed or how often says how long an activity has been happening:
something has been done:
I’ve cooked three pizzas. I’ve been cooking all afternoon.
Sandra has phoned me four times today. I’ve been speaking on the phone for hours.

may indicate a more permanent situation: may indicate a temporary situation:
He’s worked in this shop all his life. I’ve been working on my art project for two weeks now.
I’ve always lived here. People have been living in terrible conditions in the refugee
camp.

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