Permanent / Temporary
Indicating long- or short-term activity
Permanent vs. Temporary
| PRESENT PERFECT | PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE |
|---|---|
In this context, using the present perfect implies a more permanent state. |
In this context, using the present perfect progressive implies a more temporary state. |
| 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. |
Time adverbs associated with these verb tenses:
| ADVERBS USED FOR MORE PERMANENT STATES | ADVERBS USED FOR MORE TEMPORARY SITUATIONS |
|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
I have lived in the dormitory for a week." |
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. |
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.