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Present Perfect. What’s the difference in meaning?. I’ ve written the report. I’ ve been writing the report. I’ ve lived here all my life. I’ ve been living here all my life. We’ ve sold over 100 000 items so far. Our product has been selling well in Germany.
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What’s the difference in meaning? • I’ve written the report. • I’ve been writing the report. • I’ve lived here all my life. • I’ve been living here all my life. • We’ve sold over 100 000 items so far. • Our product has been selling well in Germany.
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE Past action+present result The focus is on result Permanent situation PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS The focus is on the activity Temporary situation Repetitive activities
Past action/situation that has an effect in the present To give or ask for more details To talk about an action in an unfinished time period To aks a general question about past experiences With since, for, ever, never, so far, recently, just… A completed action/state in the past (The time is usually stated* or is obvious from the context.) *yesterday, ago, in 2007, earlier this week, last week, month, year… The printer has broken down. (It isn’t working now.) Have you ever been to our Paris offices? Our company has made $6m profit this year. I’ve worked here since January. This project started 6 years ago. “Oh really? When did you go there?” “I went there last autumn.” Present Perfect vs Past Simple
PRESENT PERFECT Past action/situation that has an effect in the present. With since, for, ever, never, so far, recently, just, already… To talk about an action in an unfinished time period (this morning – it is still morning). To aks a general question about past experiences (Have you ever...?) PAST SIMPLE A completed action/state in the past (The time is usually stated - yesterday, ago, in 2007, earlier this week, last week, month, year… or is obvious from the context). To give or ask for more details.