Why do we use this tense?<\/p>\n
Generally it’s used to describe a continuous action over a period of time (an activity).<\/p>\n
I want you to imagine me doing this activity!<\/p>\n
I’ve been playing a game.<\/em><\/p>\n It may continue or not. It may be finished or not. It may or may not be happening now- that’s not the focus. The focus is the activity.<\/em><\/p>\n I’ve been watching a TV series.<\/em><\/p>\n Present Perfect (PP) focuses on\u00a0only<\/strong> <\/em>the consequence<\/strong> of an action in the present.<\/p>\n The Present Perfect Continuous (PPC)\u00a0focuses on\u00a0an action<\/strong> that has a consequence on the present.<\/p>\n PP focus = result<\/p>\n PPC focus = action<\/p>\n Both<\/em> have a link from the past to the present.\u00a0Both<\/em> have a consequence in the present<\/p>\n I have worked all day! = Present Perfect<\/p>\n I have been working all day!\u00a0 = Present Perfect Continuous<\/p>\n subject + <\/span>have<\/strong> + <\/span>been<\/strong> + verb(<\/span>ing<\/strong>)<\/span><\/p>\n It\u00a0has been raining <\/strong>= imagine the rain (action<\/em>) + the ground is wet<\/p>\n It has rained = because of the rain, the ground is wet (result<\/em>).<\/p>\n With both cases, we see that the ground is wet, but only with the PPC we picture the action that caused it.<\/p>\n Present Perfect\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0is used to focus on the consequence of an action on the present.\u00a0 This action has ended.<\/p>\n “I have eaten” =\u00a0\u00a0I am full because I ate<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Present Perfect Continuous<\/strong>\u00a0 is used to focus on the action. Note: the action has usually ended.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n “I have been eating<\/strong>” =\u00a0imagine this action, imagine me doing this<\/p>\n In both cases, the result is “I am full because I ate” but the PPC also presents an image of the cause.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n More examples:<\/p>\n I have worked very hard = I am tired (etc)<\/p>\n I have been working<\/strong> very hard = in your mind, please imagine me working.\u00a0 Also, consider that I am tired.<\/p>\n Look at the image below and what is written at the bottom.\u00a0 What is she trying to express? The consequence or the action?<\/p>\n It is the consequence<\/b>.\u00a0 She doesn’t want to talk about the fighting, but the result of the fight, so, “You have taught me”.<\/p>\n If she wanted to focus on the action, she would have said “you have been teaching<\/strong> me”.<\/p>\n Look at the picture below.\u00a0 Which sentence fits better?<\/p>\n They have discussed =\u00a0 focus on the \u00a0consequence + action has stopped\/finished. They have been discussing<\/strong> = focus on the action \/ the activity = imagine this action.\u00a0 The context explains if the action has stopped or not.<\/p>\n The mission has not been discussed so the second answer is better.<\/p>\n With present perfect continuous, we focus on the action<\/strong> with\u00a0a result \/ consequence \/ impact on \u00a0\/ link to\u00a0<\/em>\u00a0the present.<\/p>\n Compare<\/strong><\/p>\n They were<\/strong> discussing =\u00a0 action is finished in the past (this is the only focus) \/ no result<\/p>\n They have been<\/strong> discussing = action is finished \/ major focus is the action \/ minor focus is the result (we have a decision).<\/p>\n They have<\/strong> discussed = action is finished and has a consequence (we have a decision).<\/p>\n Imagine you meet a friend, but you are late. What would you say?<\/p>\n O: Have you been waiting long? (focus on action = waiting)<\/p>\n O: Have you waited long? (focus on result = \u00a0are you angry? Happy? Ready?)<\/p>\n The answer to the question is the same but the focus of the question is different.<\/p>\n The verb “to wait” is a normal verb, so we can use both forms and change the focus.<\/p>\n However<\/strong>: the following verbs are not usually used in the continuous:<\/p>\n be, like, want, need, prefer, believe, consist, understand, know, see, hear, taste, smell, have…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n So there is no choice, we can only use one form, and listeners have to guess which focus is being expressed.<\/p>\n X: How long have you been knowing your teammates?<\/p>\n O: How long have you known your teammates?<\/p>\n O: I have known them for 10 years.<\/p>\n X: I have been knowing them for 10 years<\/p>\n O: That’s a nice stick. How long have you had it?<\/p>\n X: How long have you been having it?<\/p>\n O: I’ve had it for six months.\u00a0 It’s got Hayabusa<\/em> buttons.<\/p>\n I have + [past participle] = a completed action has a consequence on the present<\/p>\n I have worked <\/strong>on this grammar = Look at the consequence (I am tired etc.)<\/p>\n I have been + [continuous] = picture the action + has a consequence on the present<\/p>\n I have been working <\/strong>on this grammar = Look at the action (I was working) + consequence (I am tired etc.)<\/p>\n Now go to part 2!<\/p>\n The King of Fighters is copyright SNK<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" PART 1 of 3 Note: You must understand Present Perfect before reading this! Why do we use this tense? Generally it’s used to describe a continuous action over a period of time (an activity). I want you to imagine me doing this activity! I’ve been playing a game. It may continue or not. It may … <\/p>\nSimple explanation<\/h1>\n
Form<\/h1>\n
Example<\/h1>\n
Consequence vs Action<\/h1>\n
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\nHowever, looking at the picture, the action has not finished!<\/p>\nException verbs<\/h1>\n
Summary<\/h1>\n
Part 2<\/a><\/h1>\n