Permanent / Temporary
Indicating long– or short–term activity
Present Perfect — Nonprogressive vs. Progressive
| PERMANENT | TEMPORARY |
|---|---|
Present perfect sentences focus on the duration of time more than the specific activity. In this context, using the present perfect implies a more permanent state. |
Present perfect progressive sentences tend to focus more on the activity — its repetition (several times) or (still) duration. In this context, using progressive indicates a temporary activity. |
The Tower has stood in Pisa since 1352. (permanent) |
We have been standing in line two hours. (temporary) |
It has leaned for many decades. |
I have been leaning against this wall waiting. |
The huge bell in the tower hasn't rung for years. |
No one has been ringing the bell this
morning. |
Adverbs
| ADVERBS — MORE PERMANENT STATES | ADVERBS — MORE TEMPORARY SITUATIONS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Most present perfect adverbs are used with the progressive and nonprogressive verbs. |
*However, an adverb of repetition is not generally used (and is awkward) with the progressive because the tense already carries the meaning of repetition. |
||
SINCE / FOR |
SO FAR / THIS |
ADVERBIALCLAUSES |
TEMPORARY |
since noon (exact time – midnight, 3:00 a.m.) |
so far (to date) |
while you are here. |
tonight ( today) |
since this morning (today, this week, this year, etc.) |
up to now (until now) |
as we speak. |
this week (morning, evening, week, month, year) |
since July 2003 (summer, 1900, the 4th century) |
over the past two years (weeks, decades, centuries) |
for the time being. |
just this week, all morning |
ever since then (I met you, I was little) |
in my life (in these times, situations, moments) |
as you have been working. |
for a little while(for the past…) |
for a minute (hour, day, week, month, year, decade) |
always (routinely, customarily, normally, as a rule, in general) |
|
currently (currently, presently, just now, now) |
for a while (a minute, an hour, a day, 30 years – quantity of time) |
usually (most of the time) |
|
recently (lately) |
for the time being (for now) (quantity of time) |
often (frequently, half of the time) |
|
|
Common Mistakes
| UNCOMMON USAGE | FIX |
|---|---|
I have lived in the dormitory for a week. (not incorrect but uncommon usage) |
I have been living in
the dormitory for a week. (use progressive) |
Stative Verbs
Verbs that Change Meaning
| STATIVE VERB | ACTIVE FORM |
|---|---|
Use present perfect (nonprogressive form) with stative verbs. |
Most stative verbs do not take the progressive form. Some stative verbs have different meanings when used in the progressive form. |
|
He has been here for a while. |
— |
The president has looked tired for the past few months. appears / seems |
The president has been looking for new advisors. searching |
He has appeared to be uncomfortable in public. looks |
Joe Smith has been appearing on stage for three months. acting |
|
We have owned our home for several years. |
— |
We have had our house since 1990. owned |
I have been having a lot of headaches recently. experiencing |
|
He has known the secret for a while. |
— |
They have believed in God for centuries. |
— |
|
I have heard what you said. |
— |
He has seen the new plans. looked at |
He has been seeing a new doctor. going to (as a patient) |
He has sounded better since he started taking his medicine. appears |
The alarm has been sounding all day. ringing |
|
The cost equals $100,000. |
— |
He has weighed a lot for quite some time. |
He has been weighing himself every day. |
Related pages Stative Verbs
Practice
Contrasting Temporary and Permanent States
Determine the verb tense depending on whether the speaker is speaking about a temporary or long-term activity.
- Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.