Form
| Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
|---|---|
irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs
regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed
|
form of 'have' + been + verb + ing
|
| Exceptions | |
Exceptions when adding 'ed' :
| Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
|
See also explanations on Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Progressive
Use
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasise the duration or continuous course of an action.
Ambos tiempos expresan una acción que inició en el pasado y aún continua o recién ha terminado, ambas formas son correctas pero frecuentemente existe diferencia en significado. Usamos el Present Perfect Simple principalmente para expresar que una acción ha concluido o para enfatizar el resultado. Usamos el Present Perfect Progressive para enfatizar la duración o el curso continuo de una acción.
Result or duration?
Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on?
¿Quieres expresar lo que ha pasado hasta ahora o por cuanto tiempo la acción ha estado sucediendo?
| Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
|---|---|
| Result (what / how much / how often) Resultado (qué/ cuánto(s)/ qué tan seguido)
I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London twice.
| Duration (how long) Duración (por cuánto tiempo)
I have been writing for an hour.
|
Certain verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form).
Los siguientes verbos suelen usarse sólo en forma simple.
- state: be, have (for possession only)
Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.
- senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He has touched the painting.
- brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I have known him for 3 years.
Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.
Example: He has touched the painting.
Example: I have known him for 3 years.
Emphasis on completion or duration?
Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent his time)?
| Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
|---|---|
| Emphasis on completion Énfasis en conclusión
I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.)
He realizado mi tarea = está terminada
| Emphasis on duration Énfasis en duración
I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's how I have spent my time. It does not matter whether the homework is completed now.)
He estado haciendo mi tarea = así es como he pasado mi tiempo
|
Result or side effect?
Do you want to express that a completed action led to a desired result or that the action had an unwanted side effect?
| Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
|---|---|
| desired result Resultado deseado
I have washed the car. (Result: The car is clean now.)
He lavado mi auto (Resultado: el auto está limpio ahora)
| unwanted side effect Resultado colateral no deseado
Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.)
¿Por qué estas tan mojado? -He estado lavando mi auto
|
Time + negation: last time or beginning of an action?
In negative sentences: Do you want to express how much time has past since the last time the action took place or since the beginning of the action?
| Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
|---|---|
since the last time
desde la última vez
I haven't played that game for years. (Meaning: It's years ago that I last played that game.)
|
since the beginning
desde el principio
I haven't been playing that game for an hour, only for 10 minutes. (Meaning: It's not even an hour ago that I started to play that game.)
|
Permanent or temporary?
If an action is still going on and we want to express that it is a permanent situation, we would usually use the Present Perfect Simple. For temporary situations, we would prefer the Present Perfect Progressive. This is not a rule, however, only a tendency.
| Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
|---|---|
permanent
permanente
James has lived in this town for 10 years.(Meaning: He is a permanent resident of this town.)
James ha vivido en este pueblo por diez años (es un residente permanente)
|
temporary
temporal
James has been living here for a year. (Meaning: This situation is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange student and only here for one or two years.)
James ha estado viviendo aquí por un año. (es algo temporal, no sabemos por cuanto tiempo más)
|
Signal words
Palabras clave
| Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
|---|---|
|
|
Ejercicios
Resultado vs. Duración
Conclusión vs. Duración
Mixtos
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario