Present Perfect

 Grammar-Quizzes
Present Perfect Progressisve - Temporary Framed | Unframed

 

 

Contrast

 

 

 

 

Present perfect progressive can indicate:

  • repeated activity over a period of time - past to present
  • temporary activity over a period of time - past to present 
  • ongoing activity over a period of time - past to present

Below, the focus contrasts temporary activities vs. more permanent states.

 

 Tower of Pisa and tourists outside it
 

 

PRESENT PERFECT PRES. PERF. PROGRESSIVE
MORE PERMANENT MORE TEMPORARY
The Tower has stood in Pisa since 1352. We have been standing in line two hours.
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.
(The bell-ringer is sick today.)

 

Time adverbs associated with these verb tenses:

ADVERBS USED FOR MORE PERMANENT STATES ADVERBS USED FOR MORE TEMPORARY SITUATIONS
  • for ten years
  • over the past ten years
  • all his life
  • for this decade
  • always
     
  • today
  • this morning
  • this week
  • this month
  • since 1990
  • ever since 1990
  • ever since I was born
  • from the day I arrived in the U. S.
  • all morning
  • just this week
  • for a little while
  • for the last ten minutes

 

 

COMMON ERROR FIX
*I have lived in the dormitory for a week." I have been living in the dormitory for a week. (use progressive), or
I have lived in the dormitory for six years. (use larger quantity of time)

 
 

Practice

 

tv
  1. Determine the verb tense depending on whether the speaker is speaking about a temporary or long-term activity.
  2. Select the answers that best complete the sentence. 
  3. Use the Check button to compare your answer.

 

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Julie Sevastopoulos - ESL Department - College of San Mateo - San Mateo, CA 94402 USA