Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous

Sometimes there's really no difference in meaning between the two tenses.

Especially with verbs such as 'live', 'work' and 'study':

They've lived in London since 2004.
They've been living in London since 2004.
I've studied French for ten years.
I've been studying French for ten years.
He's worked at the company since 2009.
He's been working at our company since 2009.

True

False

The PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE can be used (often with 'since' and 'for') to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still true in the present.

It's often used with stative verbs.

For example:

I've known John for three years.

True

False

The PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS can also be used (often with 'since' and 'for') to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still true in the present.

(Of course, we don't use the present perfect continuous with stative verbs).

For example:

She's been living here for three years.

True

False

Select the correct implication of the following sentence in PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:

"I've been reading the book you recommended."

I'm enjoying it, but I'm not finished.

I've finished it, so we can talk about it.

Select the correct implication of the following sentence in PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:

"I've read the book you recommended."

I'm enjoying it, but I'm not finished.

I've finished it, so we can talk about it.

We use 'yet' and 'already' with the PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE.

For example:

Have you read the book yet?
She's finished her work already.

True

False

How could we explain the following examples?

I've been eating dinner, so there are plates all over the table.
She's been doing her homework, so she's tired.
I've been making a cake, that's why the kitchen is such a mess.

We use this tense when the action is finished, and the result comes from the action being finished.

This tense is used when the result comes from the action itself. It doesn't matter if the whole action is finished or not. The result is often something we can see, hear, smell, or feel.

How could we explain the following examples?

I've eaten dinner, so let's go out.
She's done all her homework, so she can relax this evening.
I've made a cake. Would you like some?

We use this tense when the action is finished, and the result comes from the action being finished.

This tense is used when the result comes from the action itself. It doesn't matter if the whole action is finished or not. The result is often something we can see, hear, smell, or feel.

Select the option that accurately represents the following statement:

The PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS can be used to emphasize that something is temporary.

Usually I study at home, but I've been studying in the library for the last week.

I've been reading the book you recommended.

She's been doing her homework, so she's tired.

The PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE is often used when we're talking about "how much" or "how many". This is NOT possible with the PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS.

Select, then, the statement that is incorrect:

She's drunk three cups of coffee this morning.

She's drunk at least a litre of coffee today.

She's been drinking three cups of coffee this morning.

Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous

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