Should the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous be used?

a. The Present Perfect denotes a completed action while with the Present Perfect Continuous there is an implication of incompleteness.

He has made some payments. Now he has to save.

John is out of money. He has been making some payments.

b. We use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about how long something has been in progress.

We have been planning our meeting since 12 o’clock.

How long have you been typing letters?

We use the Present Perfect to talk about what has been achieved in a period of time.

I ’ve typed four letters so far this morning.

We have planned the greater part of our meeting since 12 o’clock.

c. We use the Present Perfect Continuous for situations which are more temporary (continuing for a short period).

He has been living there for just a few weeks.

We have been buying newspapers at the current price for just two days.

We use the Present Perfect for situations which are more permanent (continuing for a longer time).

You have worked hard all your life.

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences using the appropriate tense of the verbs in brackets.

1. I’m sorry, I’m late.... (you / wait) long?

2. We... (plan) our meeting since early morning but we are still in the process.

3. Our specialists... (study) the political party system for 3 months and now they can demonstrate the results of their survey.

4. They... (advertize) their candidates everywhere for a month.

5. – How long... you (look for) the documents concerning the electoral system in Britain? – I... (try) to find them since morning, but I think it’ll take me the whole day.

6.... you (clear up) some of Sally’s work? It has been a hectic day.

7. Mr. White, the Labour Party member,... (pay) his member’s subscription to the party since January 3.

8. I... (dial the number direct) for half an hour, but in vain. Let’s do it through the operator.

9. The main function of the Cabinet... (be) to make laws since it was founded.

10. These experts... (analyze) the general policy of the government for a week. Do you think we should hire some more specialists?

Exercise 2

Choose the correct form.

1. – Can I have a look at his report for the month? – Certainly. You can keep it if you like. I have been reading / have read it.

2. They have been paying / have paid through a London branch this month, but we haven’t received the payment yet.

3. You know this candidate has failed / has been failing to arrive in London.

4. Mr. Cross has been paying / has paid nearly two thousand pounds so far this year.

5. What’s the matter? Has something been going / has something gone wrong with our legislative act?

6. I have always been writing / have always written my reports by myself.

7. Prime Minister has been ringing / has rung you up for 2 hours. He is on the line.

8. Something has happened / has been happening to our agent in the USA. I can’t locate him.

9. The secretary has tried / has been trying to find the file concerning the results of the 5 May 2005 general elections for 2 hours.

10. Miss Trand has telephoned / has been telephoning to say that she is ill and cannot come to the office.

Practice withthe Past Perfect

Ask yourself these questions when checking the Past Perfect Tense.

What kind of action does the Past Perfect denote?

After she had made her speech, she felt easier.

Fortunately, the problem had been solved before we started.

By that time he had given the exact date of our conference.

Are any words used to underline the meaning of the Past Perfect?

They had no sooner sent a letter to the committee than
the situation changed.

Nell had scarcely set a note with the memo when the manager

asked her to bring it.

For the sake of emphasis the word order may be inverted.

No soonerhad she set a note with the letter than she heard

the trill of the bell.

Hardlyhad I touched the pillow when I fel l asleep.

Exercise 1

A. Complete the sentences using the past perfect of the verbs in brackets.

1.– Why were you so angry when I saw you yesterday? – Oh, I ____ (just / have) a big argument with the members of Congress.

2. I tried contacting my colleague when I was in the US, but she ____ (change) her address some time ago and no one knew where she _____ (move) to.

3. Mr. Blake was very nervous when he was present in Congress for the first time because he _____ (not / make one’s speech) at such a meeting before.

4. When I heard his voice on the phone, I knew I _____ (speak) to him before. Then I remembered I _____ (already / meet) him. I also remembered that I _____ (not like) him very much.