Present Perfect compared
One foot in the past , one foot in the present – which continues
I lived in Rome (finished)
I’ve lived in Rome (some time in the past, so I know it in the present)
I’ve been living in New York for ten years ( still there, continues)
She’s been married three times ( She’s still alive)
She married three times ( She’s dead – cannot continue)
Did you see the Renoir exhibition? (It’s finished now)
Have you seen the Renoir exhibition? (It’s still on)
Did you see the match ? (The one that was on tv last night)
Did you enjoy the film? (on leaving the cinema)
Have you enjoyed the holiday? (Said near the end of the holiday)
It rained yesterday (= past time)
It’s been snowing (There’s still snow on the ground)
1 Unfinished past
Began in the past and continues
I’ve lived here for twenty years
Have you been waiting long?
2 Present result – no time given
You’ve had your hair cut
I’ve lost weight
She’s gone to Spain
3 Indefinite past
Have you ever taken drugs?
She’s been to Spain
Simple or continuous
I’ve lived ↘
in Paris since I was a kid ➢ no difference
I’ve been living ↗
The continuous can suggest a temporary situation
I’ve been living with a host family for two weeks
The castle has stood on the hill for centuries
The simple suggests a completed action, the continuous an incomplete action
I’ve painted the bathroom
I’ve been painting the flat
The simple is used with ‘how much / many’ i.e. completed things
How much have you saved this year?
How many rooms have you painted so far?
The continuous is used with ‘how long’ i.e. things continuing
How long have you been saving?
How long have you been decorating your house?
