Present perfect continuous

They haven't had a holiday (for) ten years

But you need use for in negative sentences: They haven't had a holiday for ten years

I've lived here (for) all my life.

Do no use for + all: I've lived here all my life.

I have always (live) in the country

For live, work + always, use perfect simple I've always lived in the country

I (know) about the problem for a long time. How long you (have) that camera?

Have known, have had, have liked are not normally used in continuous forms I've known about the problem for a long time. How long have you had that camera?

How long (be) it since Mrs Hill died?

How long is it since Mrs Hill died? = How long has it been since Mrs Hill died?

I (not know) where Lisa (be). I (not see) her (= I haven't seen her recently) Was Lisa at the party on Sunday? I don't think so, I (not see) her

I don't know where Lisa is. I haven't seen her (= I haven't seen her recently) Was Lisa at the party on Sunday? I don't think so, I didn't see her

Has been painting vs has painted I have been painting my bedroom <> She has painted her bedroom.

I have been painting my bedroom = we are thinking of the activity. It does not matter whether it has been finished or not. Her bedroom was green. Now it's red. She has painted her bedroom. = "She has painted" is a completed action. we are interested in the result of the activity, not the activity itself. Joe has been eating too much recently. He should eat less <> Somebody has eaten all the chocolate. The box is empty

I haven't seen Tom since Monday = Monday ...

I haven't seen Tom since Monday = Monday was the last time I saw Tom

I studied German at school, but I (forget) most of it now.

I studied German at school, but I've forgotten most of it now.

I never (ride) a horse (in my life) <> I never (ride) a bike when I was a child

I've never ridden a horse (in my life) <> I never rode a bike when I was a child

In the last day of your holiday, you say: It (be) a really good holiday. I really (enjoy) it. After you come back from holiday, you say: It (be) a really good holiday. I really (enjoy) it.

In the last day of your holiday, you say: It's been a really good holiday. I've really enjoyed it. After you come back from holiday, you say: It was a really good holiday. I really enjoyed it.

John asked me: Carla (be) here or she (leave)? <> What time Carla (leave)?

Is carla here or has she left? <> What time did carla leave? We do not use the present perfect (I have done) with a finished time (yesterday, last year)

How long has it been raining? It has been raining for two hours.

It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining now. We use "have been doing something" for an activity that continues until now.

It (stop) raining now, so we don't need umbrella <> It (stop) raining for a while, but now it's raining.

It has stopped raining now, so we don't need umbrella It stopped raining for a while, but now it's raining. (not it has stopped)

They've been married (for) ten years

It is possible to leave out for They've been married for ten years = They've been married ten years

It (be) two years since I last saw Joe = I (not see) Joe for two years

It is two years since I last saw Joe = It has been 2 years since I last saw Joe = I haven't seen Joe for two years

Paul is in hospital but How long Paul (be) in hospital? He (be) in hospital since Monday

Paul is in hospital but How long has Paul been in hospital? He has been in hospital since Monday

The town where we live (change) a lot. It's very different now.

The town where we live has changed a lot. It's very different now.

They are married but How long they (be) married? They (be) married for 20 years.

They are married but How long have they been married? They have been married for 20 years.

They haven't had a holiday for ten years = They haven't had a holiday _____ ten years

They haven't had a holiday for ten years = They haven't had a holiday in ten years

They (go) away, but I think they're at home now

They went away, but I think they're at home now (not they've gone away)

They (go) away. They'll be back on Friday. (= they are away now)

They've gone away. They'll be back on Friday. (= they are away now)

We've been waiting for an hour <> We waited for an hour

We've been waiting for an hour (we are continuing waiting now) <> We waited for an hour ( we are no longer waiting)

When did it start raining? It (start) raining an hour ago How long it (rain)? It (rain) for an hour

When + past simple, how long + present perfect When did it start raining? It started raining an hour ago How long has it been raining? It's been raining for an hour

I (learn) English for 3 years. It (rain) since lunchtime. How long you (drive)?

When we ask or say how long, the continuous is more usual: I've been learning English for 3 years. It's been raining since lunchtime. How long have you been driving?

Some verbs are not used in present perfect continuous form (16 verbs) How long have you known Jane? I've had these shoes for ages.

belive belong consist contain fit have a car know like need prefer realize recognize remember seem suppose understand

Tom has lost his key = Tom (look) for his key, he (not have) it now. Ten minutes late: Now Tom has found his key. He has it in his hand now. Has he lost his key? ________ Did he lose his key? ________ He lost his key but now he (find) it.

Tom has lost his key = Tom is looking for his key, he doesn't have it now. (permanent situation around now) Ten minutes late: Now Tom has found his key. He has it in his hand now. Has he lost his key? No, he has found it Did he lose his key? Yes, he did He lost his key but now he has found it.

Tom (lose) his key. He can't get into the house <> Tom (lose) his key yesterday. He couldn't get into the house.

Tom has lost his key. He can't get into the house <> Tom lost his key yesterday. He couldn't get into the house.

Julia has (live) here for a long time How long have you (work) here?

Use can use either the present perfect continuous or simple with live and work Julia has been living here for a long time = Julia has lived here for a long time How long have you been working here? = How long have you worked here?

Mozart (be) a composer. He (write) more than 600 pieces of music My mother (grow) up in Italy Who (invent) the telephone? <> Somebody (invent) a new telephone. I saw it on TV.

Use the past simple for thing that are not recent or new: Mozart was a composer. He wrote more than 600 pieces of music My mother grew up in Italy Who invented the telephone? (not has invented) <> Somebody has invented a new telephone. I saw it on TV.

past: When your friend (arrive)? What time you (finish) work?

We do not use the present perfect (I have done) with a finished time (yesterday, last year) Use the past simple to ask when and what time When did your friend arrive? What time did you finish work?

We use _____________ for a finished time in the past: Yesterday Last week From 2010 to 2012 A few day

We use past simple for a finished time in the past: Yesterday Last week From 2010 to 2012 A few day

We use _______ for a period of time that continues until now: Today This week Since 2010 In the last few day

We use present perfect for a period of time that continues until now Today This week --->It hasn't rained this week Since 2010 In the last few day

Ow! I've burnt myself How you (do) that? I (pick) up a hot dish

We use present perfect to give the new information, but if we continue to talk about it, we normally use the past simple: Ow! I've burnt myself How did you do that? I picked up a hot dish

they (have) a car? How long they (have) a car?

We use present perfect to talk about something that began in the past and still continues now. Do they have a car? How long have they had a car?

At the moment, she (wait) for somebody but she (wait) all morning

We use present perfect to talk about something that began in the past and still continues now. We know each other very well. But We've known each other for a long time. She's waiting for somebody but she's been waiting all morning Do they have a car? How long have they had a car?

We (know) each other very well. But We (know) each other for a long time.

We use present perfect to talk about something that began in the past and still continues now. We know each other very well. But We've known each other for a long time. She's waiting for somebody but she's been waiting all morning Do they have a car? How long have they had a car?

Lisa (write) a lot of emails all morning <> Lisa (send) lots of emails this morning.

We use the perfect continuous to say How long for something that is still happening , We use perfect simple to say how much/many/many times for completed actions. Lisa has been writing a lot of emails all morning <> Lisa has sent lots of emails this morning.

How long you (learn) english? (= you are still learning english)

We use the present perfect continuous in this way especially with how long, for ... and since ... The activity is still happening or has just stopped. How long have you been learning english? (= you are still learning english) Tim is watching TV, he has been watching tv all day Where were you? I've been looking for you for the last half hour. Christ hasn't been feeling well recently

I (repaired) the washing machine (myself). It's working ok now

We use the present perfect for new or recent happenings. Usually, the past simple is also possible: I've repaired the washing machine. It's working ok now = I repaired the washing machine. It's working ok now.