Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verb Groups › Present Perfect › Permanent vs. Temporary
Present Perfect: Permanent vs. Temporary
Indicate long– or short–term activity
Present Perfect — Nonprogressive vs. Progressive
| PERMANENT |
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Depending on the meaning of a verb, an action or state in the present perfect may express permanence. The verb in the present perfect expresses duration of an activity, event or state, which occurred sometime in the past, and (1) may have ended recently, or (2) may continue into the future. |
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The tower has stood in Pisa since 1370. (The Tower of Pisa took 334 years to complete.) |
The structure has leaned since 1178. (The foundation began to fail after adding the third level) |
The foundation has sunk for many decades. |
The tower hasn't stood at a 90º angle since the third level was added. |
| TEMPORARY |
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Depending on the meaning of a verb, an action or state in the present perfect progressive may express temporariness. The verb in the present perfect progressive expresses repetition (recurring actions) or continuous activity from past to present, which is ongoing and may extend into the future. |
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We have been standing in line to visit the tower. (tourist activity) |
We have been leaning against a wall waiting. |
We have been taking selfies with the tower. |
We have been climbing the 296 steps to the top for 25 minutes. |
The non-progressive present perfect relates past or recent-past activity to current relevance/importance (informative).
The progressive present perfect relates the same activity with emphasis on its timing, the flow [passing] of time, how one experiences the activity in the time (experiential). See Tense, Aspect & Mood.
| NON-PROGRESSIVE PRESENT PERFECT |
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| OCCURRING PAST TO NOW — MORE PERMANENT / A LONG TIME |
What has he done? (occupation, residence, habit) He has worked on the tower for years and years. He has lived in Pisa all their lives. He has smoked cigarettes since he was eighteen. |
| OCCURRING SOMETIME IN THE PAST — EXPERIENCE |
What has he done? (skills, experience; indefinite past) He has worked on the tower. He has lived in Pisa. He has learned to speak Italian. |
| OCCURRING IN THE PAST — COMPLETED |
What has he done? (past activity has current relevance / importance) He has worked on the Pisa tower¹. He has lived in Pisa. He has learned Italian well. |
| PROGRESSIVE PRESENT PERFECT |
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| OCCURRING PAST TO NOW — MORE TEMPORARY / A SHORT TIME |
What has he been doing? (ongoing: short-term activity) He has been working on the tower this week. He has been living in Pisa for a year or two. He has been meeting new friends. |
| OCCURRING PAST TO NOW — CONTINUOUSLY / REPETITIVELY |
What has he been doing? (ongoing: continuous / repetitive activity) He has been working on the tower. (repetitively) He has been living in Pisa. (continuously) He has been chatting with Italian friends at the piazza. (repetitively) |
| OCCURRING IN THE PAST & PRESENT — AND LIKELY THE FUTURE |
What has he been doing? (ongoing: past – present – probably future) He has been working on the tower. He has been living in Pisa. He has been meeting up with friends. |
Related pages: Up to now, Permanent v. Temporary, Experience, Completed v. Ongoing, Duration vs. Repetition, Relate Past Events to the Current Moment.
Present Perfect Adverbs (time expressions)
Specify the timing of an action or activity
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Adverbs for Present Perfect Tense
| DEFINITE TIMING "HAPPENING BEFORE AND UP TO NOW" | |
|---|---|
Adverbial expressions with definite timing are used when actions have starting times and ending times relative to the current moment (now). Compare (1) I have just walked to class this morning. The period ended when I arrived at class. (done, perfective) to (2) I have been walking to class this morning. The period will end when I arrive at class. (may be ongoing, imperfective) |
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| BOTH PROG. NONPROGRESSIVE | BOTH PROG. & NONPROGRESSIVE |
He has just visited Pisa. He's just been visiting Pisa. |
He has visited Pisa today. He's been visiting Pisa today. |
| A TIME PERIOD RELATIVE TO NOW | A STARTING TIME UP TO NOW |
just (just, recently, [neg.] lately) I have just walked a mile. I have just been walking a mile. |
today¹ / tonight (a time starting from within this time to current time)
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so far (to date, up to now) I have read 40 pages so far. *I have been reading 40 pages so far. |
this month¹ (a time starting from within this time to current time:morning, evening, week, semester, this spring, year, decade, century) |
already (earlier than expected) I have walked 10 minutes already. I have been walking 10 minutes already. |
since / ever since (from this time to current time: 6:00 AM, noon, midnight, this morning, May 2012; ever since I met you) |
yet (later than expected) I haven't walked 10 minutes yet. *I haven't been walking 10 minutes yet. |
from last Monday until now (1 PM until now) |
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| INDEFINITE TIMING "HAPPENING SOMETIME" | |
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Adverbial expressions with indefinite timing are used when activities or states happen "sometime", not related to the current moment (now). The precise time is not important. The focus is on the activity or state. These adverbs express duration (a period of time) or repetition (the interval of occurrence). They are mostly imperfective (may extend in the future). |
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| MOSTLY PROGRESSIVE | BOTH PROG. & NONPROGRESSIVE |
He has visited Pisa recently. He's been visiting temporarily. |
He has often given tours. ~He's often been giving tours. |
| DURATION— PERIOD | REPETITION — INTERVAL |
temporarily(continuously, briefly, momentarily) [imperfective, ongoing] ⇒ Mostly progressive. |
repeatedly(constantly, continuously, again and again, perpetually, eternally) ⇒ Switch to "keep" with progressive.³ |
for a moment (ten minutes, a week, a month, for a while², a little while, a day, forever) ⇒ Often present perfect. |
always (routinely, customarily, usually, in general, normally, often, sometimes, hardly ever, never) |
during the week (month, year, etc.) ⇒ Mostly nonprogressive. |
ever (requesting any experience: before) ⇒ Mostly nonprogressive.
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from Monday to Tuesday(1 PM to 2 PM, morning to night) all my life |
at night (noon, midnight, sunset) in spring (winter, summer, June, July) |
while it is warm(a relative period of time: when, if, whenever, before, after) before sunrise (after) |
on Mondays (Tuesday, Sundays, etc.) most days (nights, weekends, etc.) |
over the past year (weeks, decades, centuries) throughout the year (weeks, decades, centuries) |
every / each / every other (hour, day, night, week, month, year, May, spring) |
* not used / ~ marginal or borderline usage; special circumstances
¹ time expressions such as like today or this month include time that is past, present and future. With the present tense, we understand the time to be present, current, now.
² for a while (PP) – can be understood in two ways: (1) having some amount of duration, or (2) being very temporary
³ keep + verb+ing – Repetition can be expressed by using the "keep" (I keep walking. He kept smiling.) The progressive with "repeatedly" (*I am walking to class repeatedly. )sounds awkward.
Also see Ever v. Never, Already v. Yet., Adverbs of Frequency, For v Since.
"Leaning Tower of Pisa–Exterior." By Jordiferrer. Wikimedia, 7 Aug. 2016. Licensed under CC BY-SA4.0 International.
Static Verbs
In Present Perfect Progressive
Verbs that Change Meaning in the Progressive
| STATIC VERB |
|---|
The nonprogressive form is used with most static verbs. |
| STATES OF BEING |
He has been here for a while. |
The president has looked tired for the past few months. appears / seems |
He has appeared to be uncomfortable in public. looks |
| POSSESSION STATES |
We have owned our home for several years. |
We have had our house since 1990. owned |
| COGNITIVE STATES |
He has known the secret for a while. |
They have believed in God for centuries. |
| SENSORY STATES |
I have heard what you said. |
He has seen the new plans. looked at |
He has sounded better since he started taking his medicine. appears |
| MEASUREMENT |
The cost equals $100,000. |
He has weighed a lot for quite some time. |
| DYNAMIC VERB |
|---|
Some static verbs have different meanings when used in the progressive form. |
| STATES OF BEING [NOT USED] |
— |
The president has been looking for new advisors. expression–"searching" |
Joe Smith has been appearing on stage for three months. expression–"acting" |
| POSSESSION STATES [NOT USED] |
— |
I have been having a lot of headaches recently. expression–"experiencing" |
| COGNITIVE STATES [NOT USED] |
— |
— |
| SENSORY STATES [NOT USED] |
— |
He has been seeing a new doctor. expression–"visiting, going to" |
The alarm has been sounding all day. expression–"ringing" |
| MEASUREMENT [NOT USED] |
— |
He has been weighing himself every day. expression–"measuring weight" |
Related pages Stative Verbs
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Errors and Solution
| ERROR |
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*I have lived in this condominium for a week. |
In a job interview: Where have you been working? *I have worked at a telecommunication company. |
~How have you been liking¹ your new school? |
| SOLUTION |
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I have been living² in this condominium for a week. (Use progressive.) I have lived in this condominium for twenty years. (Use a larger quantity of time.) |
I have been working² at a telecommunications company. (currently, now) I have worked at other related companies as well. (general experience) |
How has your experience been at your new school. ⇒ I like it a lot. / ~I have been liking¹ it a lot. |
¹ The progressive use of "like" sounds affected, artificial to many.
² The progressive places emphasis on the current and ongoing nature of the activity.
Practice 1
A Change of Interest
Read the Context
My grandfather (teach) high-school history courses for the past twenty-five years, but he (not– work) so much lately.
In general, he (keep) himself in good health, but (not-feeling) energetic in the past few months.
He (swim) daily for several years, but his shoulder (bother) him recently.
He went to see his doctor, the same one he (have) for twenty years, who mentioned that he (consider) retiring.
My grandfather (always-dream) of traveling, but he (not-able) because of his work.
Since his talk with his doctor, he (think) about his own retirement.
For years, he (present) lectures to his students on famous world landmarks, but he (never-see) them in person.
For this reason, my grandfather decided that (work) long enough and he (write) up his "bucket list".
He (look) into historical tours, and found out that the university he attended (have) an alumni tour program for 140 years.
He (always-want) to see the Alhambra, the Parthenon, the Agora, Ephesus and Cappadocia.
He (sign)up for a historical tour to exactly these places. He will be seeing the sites he (study) for so long.
alumnus (sing.) / alumni (pl.) former graduate of a university or college
bother (V) – irritate, annoy, cause trouble (pain)
bucket list (expression) – places to go or things to do before dying
energetic (Adj) – filled with energy and enthusiasm
landmark (N) – a famous building or site that is known around the world
retirement (N) – the age (~65) at which a person stops working (and does other things.)
Simple present perfect or progressive?
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
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Note that in most cases below, the progressive can be used when placing emphasis on a continuing or repetitive activity (but not for static verbs.)