PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE (PPS)
vs.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS (PPC)
“I’ve worked for Microsoft for ten years.” (PPS)
“I’ve been working for Microsoft for ten years.” (PPC)
“I’ve lived in Paris for the last five years.” (PPS)
“I’ve been living in Paris for the last five years.” (PPC)
These are examples where the meaning can be the same. However, with the PPS you can use
lists and numbers to include finished periods and activities up to the present moment. This
emphasises quantity, e.g.,
“I’ve worked for Microsoft, IBM and Apple in the last ten years.”
“I’ve lived in four countries so far.”
Therefore, PPS usually suggests the event / action is finished. Think of PPS as a statement of
fact (or personal experience) and PPC as a continuous activity (in these cases continuing into
the future). In PPC, the emphasis is normally on the time duration of the activity, or the
action itself, e.g.,
“I’ve been walking for hours.” (And I’m tired.)
“I’ve been studying English since I finished university.” (That was a long time ago.)
“I’ve been working as a taxi driver for fifteen years.” (I’m an experienced driver.)
“I’ve been working as a taxi driver for fifteen years.” (And I’ve had enough!)
NB: CONTINUOUS FORMS ARE NOT NORMALLY USED FOR ‘STATE’
VERBS (verbs that aren’t associated with an activity), e.g.,
“I’ve known many famous people.”
(NOT, “…been knowing…”).
“They’ve understood everything the teacher has said.”
(NOT, “…been understanding…”).
OR FOR SHORT TERM VERBS, e.g., ‘lose’, ‘break’, ‘cut’, ‘hit’, ‘crash’.
“I’ve crashed my car.” (NOT, “…been crashing…”).
“She’s broken her finger.” (NOT, “…been breaking…”).
