The Present Perfect Simple and Continuous: The Grammar Gameshow Episode 4
Hello, and welcome to today’s Grammar Gameshow!
And, of course, let’s not forget Leslie,
our all-knowing voice in the sky.
Tonight, we’re going to ask three questions about…
The present perfect simple and continuous tenses.
Yes, those past to present tenses
using have plus a past participle!
OK! Now, let’s meet our contestants!
And don’t forget you can play along at home too
The present perfect continuous has a use that is the
same as the present perfect simple.
True!
Both can be used for an activity
which started in the past and continues into the present.
Well done. You score two points.
I’ve been working as an accountant for eight years?
And?
I’ve worked as an accountant for eight years?
Yep. Both correct and with the same meaning.
the present perfect simple and continuous
sometimes the present perfect continuous
but the present perfect simple can.
Why?
Trick question! They can always be used the same!
Because of its continuous form,
the present perfect continuous cannot
usually be used with state verbs.
This means you must use the simple form
Mike, if you can give us an example of some state verbs,
OK, time for our final question.
This one is a picture question.
and make two sentences with it.
One in the present perfect simple,
He’s been writing letters for an hour.
He’s written a number of letters.
The present perfect simple looks at completed actions,
and often counts how many or how much,
whereas, the present perfect continuous
tends to see one action in duration,
Well, that brings us to the end of today’s
Well done! Here’s what you’ve won.
It’s a toothbrush!
That should help you ‘brush up’ on your English.
We’ll see you again next week,
where you can play for an even bigger prize.
You got totally destroyed, didn’t you?
Bring out the venomous snakes.