Grammar videos: Present perfect: simple and continuous – transcript

Watch the video on our website!

Amy: So is your mum home?

Daisy: No, she’s not. She’s … Ollie? Where’s Mum? I’ve forgotten.

Oliver: In Dubai. She’s been writing about the architecture there.

Daisy: Ah, yeah. She’s been travelling so much recently. I never remember where she is. Why?
What were you going to ask her?

Amy: Oh, nothing much. My Chinese teacher has given me some homework to interview ‘an
interesting person’, and translate it into Chinese for Monday. And your mum’s been writing
her blog for years now, hasn’t she? She’s already visited lots of places, and hasn’t she won
some awards?

Daisy: She’s only won one. But yeah, she won a big award earlier this year. Anyway, Oliver’s just
made some cake. Do you want some? Mum’ll probably call soon. And if she doesn’t, you
can interview Oliver!

Amy: Oliver? Your brother, Oliver???

Daisy: Yeah, why not? He’s going to be a master chef, you know. He’s been learning to make
amazing food and he’s been practising his baking too. And he’s travelled loads!

Amy: OK, you’ve convinced me!

Daisy: Hi! How’s Dubai?

Sophie: Fine, it’s good. There’s a constant mist of desert sand, but it’s an interesting place.
Particularly considering the city has only really been here a couple of decades. It was a port
for a long time before, but the modern city of Dubai is new.

Daisy: What have you seen so far?

Sophie: Well, I’ve been in the Burj Khalifa – the tallest building – the one in that film with Tom Cruise.
It’s incredible! And I’ve eaten at the Burj Al Arab too! That’s the hotel that looks like a yacht
sail. It is so luxurious! I haven’t been to the palm tree island yet, that’s tomorrow.

Daisy: Have you bought any souvenirs? A Ferrari?

Sophie: Ha! No, I haven’t had time yet but I’ll bring you something, even if it’s only sand!
 Grammar videos: Present perfect: simple and continuous

Remember to watch the video first! Then read the

conversation between Sophie and Yasmina, an English
language student who Sophie met in Dubai. Sophie’s
helping Yasmina understand how to use the present
perfect simple and continuous.

We use the present perfect simple (have/has + past participle) or present perfect
continuous (have/has + been + -ing) to talk about a state or an activity that has a link to the
present.

Oh, the present perfect! It’s quite tricky!

Yasmina Well, no, it’s quite logical, but it does have different uses. We often use
present perfect for talking about something which happened in the past
which is important now.

My Chinese teacher has given me some homework. (= I have the

homework to do now.)
I’ve forgotten. (= I can’t remember now.)
She’s broken her leg. (= Her leg is still broken now.)

We also use present perfect with just for talking about a recent action. Sophie
Oliver’s just made a cake.

So that’s important now because I could have some cake?

Yes, that could be the reason. But with just for recent actions we usually
use present perfect, anyway.

OK, but why can’t I say ‘Ollie’s been making a cake’?

You could, but then the focus would be more on the action rather than the
result. Maybe you are explaining why the kitchen is in a mess. We use the
present perfect simple more when there is a result in the present (like the
cake) and the present perfect continuous more when the action is important.

Umm, OK. So you would say ‘She’s been travelling a lot recently.’

Exactly. Because we’re more interested in the action than the result.
 Grammar videos: Present perfect: simple and continuous

Is the present perfect only used for recent events?

No, not at all. We also use it for life experiences which happened at any
time in the past. The person’s life, which continues in the present, is the link
to the present.
She’s won an award.
Sophie has been to Berlin before.

So, she could have been to Berlin last month or ten years ago?

Exactly, we don’t know when and it isn’t important. If you wanted to say
when, you would have to use the past simple: ‘Sophie went to Berlin ten
years ago.’
We also use the present perfect for actions or states that are unfinished.
Your mum’s been writing her blog for years now, hasn’t she?

She is still writing the blog now, so the action isn’t complete.

Could I say ‘She’s written her blog for years’?

No. We usually use the present perfect continuous for talking about the
length of time something goes on for, with phrases like for years, for a long
time, etc.

What about using still, already and yet?

We use already to talk about something which has been done, and usually
this is surprising to the speaker.
Wow, that was quick! You’ve finished your homework already.

Yet is mainly used in questions and negatives to talk about something which
hasn’t happened, but which you thought would happen in the past and you
expect to happen in the future.

I haven’t had time yet.

Have you seen her new blog yet?

We use still to talk about something which is going on longer than you
expect.
They’ve been doing things with that computer for ages, but they still
haven’t fixed it.
 Grammar videos: Present perfect: simple and continuous

OK, I feel like I’ve been understanding more

about the present perfect today.

Oh, sorry, you can’t say ‘I’ve been understanding’. Do you remember when
we looked at the present continuous? There are certain verbs, called state
verbs, which we don’t usually use in the continuous form – verbs for talking
about emotions, thinking, existing, appearing, possession and the senses.

Oh, yes. You gave me a list of them.

That’s right, they’re in the Grammar Snack on the present continuous.

Right, I’ll look at them again. Well, we’ve been talking for ages …

For a few minutes!

Yes, but I’ve learned a lot.

Excellent – you used present perfect continuous with a length of time and
present perfect simple with a result!

Watch the video on our website!

 Grammar videos: Present perfect: simple and continuous – exercises

Watch the video on our website and read the

conversation between Sophie and Yasmina. Then do
these exercises to check your understanding of the
present perfect simple and continuous.

1. Check your grammar: grouping

Write the sentences in the correct group.

To talk about a recent action

To say how many times To talk about life experience
which might not be finished

To explain the 'side effects' of an activity,

When the result is more important
e.g. why the kitchen is a mess

When the action is more

To say how long To talk about a finished activity
important

Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous

(have/has done) (have/has been doing)

2. Check your grammar: gap fill

Complete the sentences using the verb in brackets in the present perfect simple or continuous.

1. I _______________ (write) five emails today.

2. Sorry the kitchen's a mess. Ollie _______________ (cook).

3. Sorry I'm late! Have you _______________ (wait) long?

4. He _______________ (learn) English for six years.

 Grammar videos: Present perfect: simple and continuous – exercises

5. I _______________ (see) that film! It was terrible.

6. They've been playing for forty minutes but no one _______________ (score) a goal yet.

7. We _______________ (know) each other for years.

8. I really need a break! I _______________ (revise) all morning!

9. Hey, you look different. Have you _______________ (change) your hair?

10. Can we go if we _______________ (finish)?

11. Your hands are really dirty! What have you _______________ (do)?

12. Who _______________ (eat) all the cake?! There's none left.

3. Check your grammar: multiple choice

Read the sentences and circle the correct option.

1. He's waiting for Amy. He arrived 40 minutes ago.

a. He's been waiting for b. He waits for 40 minutes. c. He's waited for Amy for
40 minutes. 40 minutes.

2. Sophie is planning to buy souvenirs. It's on her list of things to do.

a. Sophie's already b. Sophie hasn't bought c. Sophie hasn't bought

bought souvenirs. souvenirs already. souvenirs yet.

3. Sophie wanted to visit the Burj Al Arab hotel. She went there two days ago.

a. Sophie hasn't been to b. Sophie has already been c. Sophie has just been to
the Burj Al Arab hotel yet. to the Burj Al Arab hotel. the Burj Al Arab hotel.

4. I don't know what octopus tastes like!

a. I haven't been trying b. I've already tried octopus. c. I've never tried octopus.
octopus.

5. Ollie took his cake out of the oven a moment ago.

a. Ollie has been making b. Ollie has just made a c. Ollie hasn't made a cake
a cake. cake. yet.
 Grammar videos: Present perfect: simple and continuous – exercises

6. He's learning how to make Japanese food. He started his course in April.

a. He's been learning b. He's already learnt c. He learnt how to cook

how to cook Japanese how to cook Japanese Japanese food in April.
food since April. food.

7. The first thing she did was go to a traditional restaurant.

a. She's already tried the b. She's never tried the c. She hasn't tried the local
local food. local food. food yet.

8. We didn't have English class this morning. It's the last lesson, later today.

a. We haven't had b. We haven't had c. We've just had English.

English already. English yet.

Discussion

What have you been doing today?