hi in today's lesson we're going to be learning about the present perfect

continuous you're going to learn how and when to use it and most importantly how

it differs from the present perfect simple keep watching until the end as

there'll be some exercises to see how much you've learned so let's get started

firstly let's remind ourselves of the form of the two tenses the present

perfect continuous is formed with have or has plus being plus the Inc form of

the verb for the present perfect simple we use either have or has plus the past

participle now let's look at when to use the two tenses there are similarities

between the present perfect continuous and the present perfect simple most

importantly they both link the past to the present

both the present perfect continuous and the present perfect simple are used to

describe events which started in the past and have continued up to the

present or are activities which have stopped recently so how do you know when

to use the present perfect continuous and when to use the present perfect

simple let's look at the differences between them the most important

difference is that the present perfect continuous is used when we want to focus

on the unfinished activity so let's look at a timeline here we have now and this

is the past so I've been fixing the car and that's why I'm dirty the action

started in the past and is unfinished whereas we used the present perfect

simple to focus on the finished result I fixed the car on the timeline we can see

that the action started in the past is complete and has an impact on the

present it means I finished fixing it and can now do something else we are

focusing on the result or I have been decorating the sitting room that's why

I'm still in my overalls we are using the present perfect continuous because

we want to focus on the unfinished action the decorating whereas if you use

the present perfect simple and say I've painted the sitting room blue here

you're focusing on the result the sitting room is now

the activity is finished and we can see the result the present perfect

continuous suggests that something is unfinished whereas the present perfect

simple gives the idea of completion another example would be I've been

reading that book that you lent me I've got one more chapter to read whereas if

we use the present perfect simple we'd say I've read that book you lent me

I finished it yesterday the present perfect continuous emphasizes the

unfinished action in other words you've not finished reading the book whereas

the present perfect simple and precise is the finished result you've read the

book but you finished it yesterday secondly we use the present perfect

continuous to talk about how long something has been happening for example

I've been learning English for five years so this is how long it's been

going on it's a continuing a duration so we use the present perfect continuous

whereas the present perfect simple tells you how much of an activity is complete

for instance she's answered ten emails this is implying also that these emails

are completed is a finished action we also use the present perfect continuous

when we want to emphasize that something is happening over a period of unfinished

time for example my English teacher says my English has been improving since I

started reading in English whereas we use the present perfect simple to talk

about how often or how many times something has happened I've called

several times today but she hasn't answered the phone we can also use the

present perfect continuous to show that something is temporary so for example I

usually work in London but I've been working in Birmingham for the last four

weeks whereas the present perfect simple is used to talk about how long when we

view something as permanent so I've worked here for 30 years in your mind

you're seeing that as a long-term love it states so also there are some verbs

that beacon that can be used with either the present perfect continuous or the

present perfect simple with little difference in meaning these verbs are

usually verbs that describe activities which normally happen over a period of

time so for instance live study wait work these all happen over a period of

time they're not completed in a short time for example Martin has been working

in England for two years is very similar to saying Martin has

worked in England for two years they mean the same and yet we could use

either tense so let's recap remember the present perfect continuous is used to

focus on the unfinished activity and the present perfect simple is used to focus

on the finished result secondly we use the present perfect continuous to talk

about how long something has been happening and the present perfect simple

tells you how much of an activity is complete thirdly we use the present

perfect continuous where we want to emphasize something happening over a

period of unfinished time whereas the present perfect simple is used to talk

about how often or how many times something has happened and lastly we can

use the present perfect continuous to show that something is temporary whereas

the present perfect simple is to talk about how long when we view something as

permanent so now it's your turn complete the gap with the verb in either

the present perfect continuous or the present perfect simple one I blank

friends so I haven't spoken to my mum yet today I have been visiting here

we're focusing on the action visiting so we used the present perfect continuous

to my mum blank me to tidy my room several times house us the present

perfect simple is used to say how many times something has happened

three I blank the kitchen so what would you like me to clean next

have cleaned here we use the present perfect simple as we're focusing on the

finished result it's a completed action you've finished

screen in the kitchen for our neighbor blank the drums for the last three hours

and it's driving me crazy here we're talking about how long something is has

been happening so we use the present perfect continuous our neighbor has been

playing the drums fine congratulations you blank the exam with really high

marks have passed here we use the present perfect simple because we're

talking about a finished result and congratulations to you guys too you now

know the difference between the present perfect continuous and the present

perfect simple please remember to like this video if you found it useful share

it with your friends and colleagues learning English and remember to

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present perfect continuous present perfect simple