1.4: Present Perfect Simple & Continuous

Question 1

What is the difference between the following two sentences?
- Our friendship has remained strong over the years.
- Our friendship remained strong over the years.

Answer 1

First sentence contains the present perfect tense. It suggests the stregth of the relationship had been maintained from the past up to the present. Conclusion: The friendship is still strong.
The second sentence contains the past tense. It suggest that the strength og the friendship was maintained in the past - it focuses on that rather than its current status. Conlusion: The friendship could be over.

Question 2

Present perfect simple - Recap: Use

Answer 2

1. Emphasis on the result of a past action
2. Recently completed action
3. A state or action beginning in the past and continuing up to the present
4. A life experience
   Beware of the markers: just, recently, yet, already since, for etc.

Question 3

And remember, if a sentence contains a past indicatior without for/since, for example: yesterday, in 1845, last week, in 2022 etc

Answer 3

Use the past tense!

Question 4

Present perfect simple - recap: How it’s made

Answer 4

Have/has + past participle

Question 5

Present perfect continuous: Explain why it’s used in the following sentences?

Answer 5

I’m tired. I’ve been running.
- A recent past activity with a visible result - there’s evidence
that something has been going on.
Joanne has been waiting for the bus for three hours now.
- An ongoing state that began in the past and is still
continuing now -emphasis on duration (how long).

Question 6

Present perfect continuous use: Continuative use (+ examples)

Answer 6

2. An ongoing state/action that began in the past and is still continuing now. Emphasis on duration (how long)
   Examples:
   I have been waiting for a week now. (and still am)
   She has been cooking for three hours now (and still is)

Question 7

Present perfect continuous use: Resultative use (+ Examples)

Answer 7

1. A recent past activity with visible result. There’s evidence that something has been going on.
   Examples:
   I’m tired. I’ve been running.
   My hair is wet. I have been swimming.
   John: Why have you got such dirty
   hands?
   Charles: I’ve been mending the car.

Question 8

Present perfect continuous: How is it made?

Answer 8

have/has + been + verb-ING
I have been swiming for hours!

Question 9

Have got: Explain when and how it’s used.

Answer 9

Have got is only used in the present tense.
It is used to express:
- Possession - I’ve got a new phone
- Relationships - I’ve got a new boyfriend
- Illnesses - I’ve got the flu