Агентство Лангуст [переход на главную]

Unit 10. Present Perfect Continuous and Simple (I have been doing and I have done)
(настоящее совершенное продолженное и настоящее совершенное времена)

Study this example situation:
 
Unit 10. Present Perfect Continuous and Simple (I have been doing and I have done)
Ann's clothes are covered in paint.
She has been painting the ceiling.
 
Has been painting is the Present Perfect Continuous.
 
We are interested in the activity. It does not matter whether something has been finished or not. In this example, the activity (painting the ceiling) has not been finished.
Unit 10. Present Perfect Continuous and Simple (I have been doing and I have done)
The ceiling was white. Now it is blue.
She has painted the ceiling.
 
Has painted is the Present Perfect Simple.
 
Here, the important thing is that something has been finished. "Has painted" is a completed action. We are interested in the result of the activity (the painted ceiling), not in the activity itself.

Compare these examples:
 
  • My hands are very dirty. I've been repairing the car.
  • She's been smoking too much recently. She should smoke less.
  • It's nice to see you again. What have you been doing since we last met?
  • Where have you been? Have you been playing tennis?
  • The car is OK again now. I've repaired it.
  • Somebody has smoked all my cigarettes. The packet is empty.
  • Where's the book I gave you? What have you done with it?
  • Have you ever played tennis?

 

We use the continuous to ask or say how long (for an activity that is still happening):
 
  • How long have you been reading that book?
  • Mary is still writing letters. She's been writing letters all day.
  • They've been playing tennis since 2 o'clock.

We use the simple to ask or say how much, how many or how many times (completed actions):
 
  • How many pages of that book have you read?
  • Mary has written ten letters today.
  • They've played tennis three times this week.

 

There are some verbs (for example, know/ like/ believe) that are normally not used in the continuous: For a list of these verbs, see Unit 4. Present Continuous and Present Simple (2) (I am doing and I do).
 
See Unit 7. Present Perfect (1) (I have done) (настоящее совершенное время 1).
See Unit 8. Present Perfect (2) (I have done) (настоящее совершенное время 2).
See Unit 9. Present Perfect Continuous (I have been doing) (настоящее совершенное продолженное время).
See Unit 11. How long have you (been)…? (настоящее совершенное время).
See Unit 12. When…? and How long…? For and since (сравнение Past Simple и Present Perfect).
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