Past simple, present perfect simple and

present perfect continuous

The form

The use of past simple

We use the past simple:
• for past (finished) actions, often with time words
like a year ago, last Sunday, in 2010, yesterday, etc.:
The first modern Olympics took place in Athens
more than a hundred years ago.
They arrived in Spain yesterday.
• for past habits or states:
He always caught the same train.
Long ago, they built most houses out of wood.
• for past states, events or actions that lasted for a
period of time in the past:
We were neighbours for twenty-five years.

The use present perfect simple

We use the present perfect:
• for actions that happened at an unspecified time in the
past:
They have arrived in Spain.
• for past actions that have a result which is obvious or
important in the present:
They have polluted the river. (= And now the fish are
dead.)
You’ve spilt the coffee all over my trousers! (— And now
they’re ruined.)
• for recently completed actions, often with just:
The film’s just started.
• to refer to a period of time that has not finished yet.
We’ve built twenty schools this year. (= It is still this year.)
 The use present perfect simple
We use the present perfect:
• for general experiences, often with before, ever and never.
Have you ever seen an elephant?
We’ve never been to Australia.
She’s never flown before.
• for actions, events or situations that began in the past
and continue in the present, often with for and since:
They have lived here for six years. (= They still live here.)
Mr Edwards has worked here since 2009. (= He still works
here.)
• with the following words: already, yet, recently, often, still:
The rain has already destroyed the crops.
We still haven’t discovered life on other planets.
They haven’t finished the project yet.

The use present perfect simple

We use the present perfect:

after superlatives, e.g. the best/worst, the greatest, ordinal
numbers, e.g. the first (second, third), the only, often
followed by ever:
It's the worst sports programme I have ever seen and the
first I have ever written to complain about!
Many people consider Kennedy to be the greatest
President the USA has had

Past simple or present perfect simple?

To talk about a period of time The choice between the

that has finished, we use the past simple and the
past simple. To talk about a present perfect simple
period of time that has not yet depends on whether the
finished, we use the present action links the past with
perfect simple. Compare: the present . Compare:
I had two sandwiches this He did a lot in his short life.
morning. (= It is now afternoon (= He is dead.)
or evening.) He has done a lot in his
I’ve had two sandwiches this short life.
morning. (= It is still morning.) (= He is alive and young.)

PA ST SIM PLE , PRESE N T PER F EC T SIM PLE, PRESE N T PER F EC T C O N TIN U O U S

The present perfect continuous

e or present perfect simple?
The form
a period o f time that has The choice between the past simple and
use the past simple. To the present perfect simple depends on
period o f time that has not whether the action links the past with
we use the present perfect the present. Compare:
pare: He did a lot in his short life.
dwiches this morning. (= He is dead.)
afternoon or evening.) H e has done a lot in his short life.
sandwiches this morning. (= He is alive and young.)
morning.)

rfect continuous

has been raining since Monday.

long have you been waiting?
ven’t been sleeping well lately.

resent perfect continuous to talk about actions that started in the

inue up to the moment of speaking. We use it especially when we are
the duration o f the action:
ting fo r a whole hour!
 The present perfect continuous
The use

We use the present perfect continuous to talk about

actions that started in the past and continue up to the
moment of speaking. We use it especially when we
are interested in the duration of the action:
I’ve been waiting for a whole hour!

The present perfect continuous

The use
Notice the difference between the present perfect
simple and the present perfect continuous:
I’ve read this book. (= I have finished it. The focus
here is on the fact that the action is complete.)
I’ve been reading a book about life on other planets. (= I
haven’t finished it yet. The focus here is on the fact that
the action is still ongoing.)

• Simple: I've learnt how to play chess. (= I can play chess

now.)
• Continuous: I've been learning how to play chess. (=
I'm still learning.)

The present perfect continuous

The use
We use the continuous to focus on the duration of an
action so we do not mention the number of times
that we have done the action. With repeated actions
we use the present perfect simple:
❎ I’ve been calling you five times this morning.
Where have you been?
✅ I've called you five times this morning. Where
have you been?

The present perfect continuous

The use

The use of the present perfect continuous can

suggest that the state or action may change, i.e. it is
temporary. Compare this with the present simple:
We subscribe to one of the satellite TV companies.
(unlikely to change)
We've been subscribing to one of the satellite TV
companies. (not a fixed situation - may change)
 The present perfect continuous
The use
With the adverbs lately or recently, we use the present
perfect continuous to talk about new developments
which may be temporary:
Helen's been spending a lot of time at the club lately.
(= She didn't use to.)
We do not usually use the present perfect continuous
in the passive:
❎ The patient's heart rate has been being monitored
continuously.
✅ The nurses have been monitoring the patient's
heart rate continuously.

Present perfect simple and continuous-

Differences
Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous
Completion Continuation
This country has welcomed This country has been
several hundred refugees from welcoming political refugees for
Kosovo in the last few weeks. many years.
Repeated action Duration of action
she has played with the she has been playing with the
symphony orchestra three times symphony orchestra all season
this season Temporary situation
Permanent situation People have been eating less
People have eaten a lot less meat meat recently because of the
over the last twenty years or so. crisis.
Focus on present result Focus on the activity
I’ve done the accounts- here they I’ve been doing the accounts all
are. afternoon.