Upper-Intermediate Grammar

Upper-Intermediate · Grammar Reference

Unit 2 — The Present Perfect

introduction · PP simple vs continuous · unfinished past · experience · result

2.1 Introduction to the Present Perfect

Like many languages, English has a past tense to refer to past time, and a present tense to refer to present time. But it also has the Present Perfect, which relates past actions to the present.
The use of the Past Simple roots an action in the past, with no explicit connection to the present. When we come across a verb in the Past Simple, we want to know When?
The use of the Present Perfect always has a link with the present. When we come across a verb in the Present Perfect, we want to know how this affects the situation now.

Past Simple	Present Perfect
I lived* in Rome.* (But not any more.)	I've lived* in Rome, Paris, and New York.* (I know all these cities now.)
She was married* three times.* (She's dead.)	She's been married* three times.* (She's still alive.)
Did you see the Renoir exhibition? (It's finished now.)	Have you seen the Renoir exhibition? (It's still on.)
It snowed* yesterday.* (= past time)	It's been snowing. (There's still snow on the ground.)

2.2 Present Perfect Simple and Continuous

Present Perfect Simple and Continuous have three main uses.

1 — Unfinished past

The verb action began in the past and continues to the present. It possibly goes on into the future, as well.

We've lived in this house for 20 years.I've been a teacher for five years.I've been working at the same school all that time.

📌 Note

There is sometimes little or no difference between the simple and the continuous: I've played / I've been playing tennis since I was a kid.
The continuous can sometimes suggest a more temporary situation. The simple can sound more permanent.
Certain verbs always suggest duration (wait, rain, snow, learn, sit, lie, play, stay) and are often found in the continuous.

2 — Present result

The verb action happened in the past, usually the recent past, and the results of the action are relevant now.

You've changed. What have you done to yourself?I've lost some weight. I've been doing a lot of exercise.

In this use, the simple emphasizes the completed action. The continuous emphasizes the activity over a period of time.

📌 Note

Certain verbs always suggest a short action (start, find, lose, begin, stop, break, die, decide, cut) and are more often found in the simple: I've broken a tooth.
In the continuous, these verbs suggest a repeated activity: I've been cutting wood.

The use of the simple suggests a completed action.

I've painted the bathroom.

The use of the continuous suggests a possibly incomplete action.

I've been cutting the grass. (= for hours) He was hitting me. (= again and again)

📌 Note

We cannot say a sentence such as ~~I've been crashing your car~~ because it suggests an activity that was done deliberately and often. Continuous tenses are dealt with further in Units 2, 3, and 5.

3 — Indefinite past

The verb action happened at an unspecified time in the past. The time isn't important. We are focusing on the experience.

Have you ever eaten crocodile meat?She's never been abroad.

📌 Note

Notice these two sentences: She's been to Spain. (At some time in her life.) She's gone to Spain. (And she's there now.)