Emphasis on completion or duration?
Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course?
Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
---|---|
Emphasis on completion | Emphasis on duration |
I have done my homework. | I have been doing my homework. |
(meaning homework is completed now) | (meaning that is how I spent my time) |
Permanent or temporary?
If an action is still going on and we want to express that it is a permanent situation, we would usually use the Present Perfect Simple.
Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Progressive |
---|---|
Permanent | Temporary |
James has lived in this town for 10 years. | James has been living here for a year. |
(meaning he is a permanent resident) | (meaning a temporary situation) |