Present perfect and present perfect progressive:
how, why, and when do we use these tenses?
In this module, we will be looking at the PRESENT PERFECT and PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE tenses. The focus will be on learning the differences between these two tenses. We will be practicing so you will know WHEN, WHY, and HOW to use these two different tenses.
Let's start with what we already know!
Let's start with what we already know!
We know that the PRESENT tense is used to communicate about actions taking place right now. As I am writing this sentence, I am writing in the present. And as you are reading it, you are reading in the present.
Basic examples of the PRESENT tense are as follows:
I write. You read. We go to class. The dogs play. The girl dances.
We also know that the PROGRESSIVE form is used to communicate mid-action, or action that is in 'progress.' You can more easily identify PROGRESSIVE forms because the verb will almost always be in the to be+verb with -ing format.
Basic examples of the PROGRESSIVE form are as follows:
The dogs are playing. I am writing. You are reading.
We are going to class. The girl is dancing.
Basic examples of the PROGRESSIVE form are as follows:
The dogs are playing. I am writing. You are reading.
We are going to class. The girl is dancing.
So, knowing the above, what does the PERFECT form do to the verb? How do you use it?
The PERFECT form is used to communicate action that started previously or in the past. You can identify the PERFECT form by the presence of has/have (been) + verb. When we combine the PERFECT form with the PRESENT tense, we are able to communicate actions that began earlier and are still happening now (at the current time). Your verb format will depend on whether the PROGRESSIVE form is also present.
With PRESENT PERFECT, your verb will usually end in -ed as it will be in the past participle form.
Basic examples of PRESENT PERFECT are as follows:
I have written. You have read.
We have gone to class. The dogs have played.
The girl has danced.
With PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE, you will be including been before your verb, which will end in -ing as it is in the present participle form.
Basic examples of the PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE are as follows:
I have been writing. You have been reading.
We have been going to class.
The dogs have been playing. The girl has been dancing.
What does this mean? How can you better tell the difference?
Let's use the below image progressions of students to help illustrate the differences between PRESENT PERFECT and PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE. It will help to remember that in the United States most people attend school from age 5 until age 17 or 18.
This is Karen. In the two pictures, you can see Karen at age 12 and at age 17.
Looking at Karen today, we say this is in the PRESENT PERFECT. Karen has attended school.
We can also say: Karen has graduated.
We can also say: Karen has graduated.
This is Reggie. In the pictures below, you can see Reggie at age 5, at age 10, and in the future at age 17.
For Reggie, we can see him in the past as a kindergarten student, today as he graduates from elementary school, and what he might look like in the future when he graduates from high school. We can say the following in PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE about Reggie: Reggie has been attending school.
In the case of KAREN, we do not see what she might be doing in the future. We are only talking about what started in the past and continued until today (the present.)
In the case of REGGIE, we do see what might be happening to him in the future. So we are talking about what started in the past, continues today, and may still happen in the future.
Why do we use PRESENT PERFECT and PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE?
We use these two verb tenses to talk about actions that began previously and are currently happening.
Listen to these two audio clips:
In the first clip, I am talking about an action (writing this module) that I started earlier and am still working on now (to this point in time). This is PRESENT PERFECT.
In the second clip, I am talking about an action (reading this module) that you started earlier, are still doing now (to this point in time), and will be continuing in the future. This is PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE.
When do we use PRESENT PERFECT and PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE?
Using these verb tenses allows a speaker to communicate ongoing actions that started earlier. Think about when you might be studying or doing your homework and you take a quick break or look away for a second. If your parent or teacher catches you, you might respond like this:
BUT I HAVE STUDIED. or BUT I HAVE BEEN STUDYING.
You can say this because you did start studying previously, you are still working now, and you might continue to study in the future.
Talking about your development towards a goal is a good way to use PRESENT PERFECT and PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE.
You have trained hard for the upcoming marathon. or I have been making progress in losing weight.
PRESENT PERFECT and PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE are also used to talk about the passage of time during an action or a task.
You can watch the first 20 seconds or so of this YouTube video about a classic American folk song - I've Been Workin' on the Railroad - to illustrate this usage.
For additional practice and information on the use of PRESENT PERFECT and PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE, you can visit the following pages:
Summary of Verb Tenses
Present Perfect Tutorial
Present Perfect Progressive Tutorial
Present Perfect Practice
Present Perfect Progressive Practice