Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Progressive

Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Progressive

Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasize the result. We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasize the duration or continuous course of an action.

Present Perfect                                                                           
irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs

Example:  I / you / we / they have spoken
                he / she / it has spoken

regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed
Example:  I / you / we / they have worked
                he / she / it has worked

The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form):

state: be, have (for possession only) Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.
senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He has touched the painting.
brain work: believe, know, think, understand Example: I have known him for 3 years.

Present Perfect Progressive
Form of 'have' + been + verb + ing

Example:  I / you / we / they have been speaking
                he / she / it has been speaking


Result or duration?

Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?

Present Perfect
Result (what / how much / how often)

I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London twice

Present Perfect Progressive
Duration (how long)
I have been writing for an hour.

Emphasis on completion or duration?

Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent his time)?

Present Perfect
Emphasis on completion

I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.)

Present Perfect Progressive
Emphasis on duration

I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's how I have spent my time. It does not matter whether the homework is completed now.)

Result or side effect?

Do you want to express that a completed action led to a desired result or that the action had an unwanted side effect?

Present Perfect
desired result
I have washed the car. (Result: The car is clean now.)

Present Perfect Progressive
unwanted side effect
Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean now.)

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. For temporary situations, we would prefer the Present Perfect Progressive. This is not a rule, however, only a tendency.

Present Perfect
permanent
James has lived in this town for 10 years. (Meaning: He is a permanent resident of this town.)

Present Perfect Progressivetemporary
James has been living here for a year. (Meaning: This situation is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange student and only here for one or two years.)


From: http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro

The Beach

This is an example of how we can use present tenses in descriptions and to tell stories that happened in the past. I hope you like it.

The Beach    

The year is 1988, and I'm in the passenger seat of a 1987 Golf heading for the beach.  Songs flow from the radio, bringing us into the right mood. The light, cool and salty sea breeze serves as refreshment on an otherwise sunny and hot day. The thermometer reads 103F, and the seagulls we see in the distance certainly agree, for they're thirstily diving into the sea and joyfully taking off to the perfect blue sky of Rio de Janeiro. Much like the birds, we are simply responding to a call from Mother Nature.    

Along the way, we bow to the statue of Christ, the Redeemer, serenely looking upon us from its sacred place atop Corcovado Mountain. Farther away, packed with delighted tourists, the tramway joining Urca Hill to Sugar Loaf Mountain can be seen. As we near our destination, the crowd grows thicker. We all gladly share the crisp air coming from the ocean and the sublime scenery bestowed upon us on this glorious Sunday morning. The smiles stretch wider as we draw closer to attaining our goal: beating the heat and having a lot of fun in the process.     

We are now driving  along the shore. The sound of crystal clear water clashing against the foreshore replaces the radio, and a gust of wind sprays tiny drops of water onto our faces. Surfers, windsurfers, jet skiers and bathers alike ride the waves. Kids build their castles. Gorgeous girls in skimpy bikinis make it even easier on the eyes. Bronze-tanned guys play volleyball or soccer, or lie on the sand, enjoying the view. On the sidewalk, a black and white mosaic made of Portuguese stone, bodies on the verge of complete nakedness bustle around kiosks in search of a cold brew or coconut milk. We park our car and ready ourselves to go into nirvana.     

The year is 1998; the day is Thursday. I'm awakened by the thunderous roar of a 747 blasting off from La Guardia Airport. It's late. My class starts in an hour, and I have homework to do. I'd better hurry.     

RSB  

NYC, 1998.

Thanks and apostrophes

thanks  pl. n.  1.  Grateful feelings; gratitude: a heart full of thanks for our escape. 2. An expression of gratitude: gave thanks to god; a note of thanks to a contributor.  Interjection. 1. Used to express thanks.
 

Thanks!

Thanks a lot!

Thanks a million!

Thanks a bunch!

a.pos.tro.phe   n. 1 The superscript sign (') used to indicate the omission of a letter or letters from a word, the possessive case, and the plurals of numbers, letters, and abbreviations.
 

Rock 'n' roll (rock and roll)

Wouldn't  (would not - contraction)

She's  (she is or she has - contractions)

'Cause (because)

Robson's posts are very interesting. (possessive)

R's and 4's are used informally to substitute for "are" and "for", respectively. (plural of letters and numbers)

See you later.

What's on?

Comma Splices

Run-ons - Comma Splices - Fused Sentences 

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/598/02/

Run-ons, comma splices, and fused sentences are all names given to compound sentences that are not punctuated correctly. The best way to avoid such errors is to punctuate compound sentences correctly by using one or the other of these rules.

1. Join the two independent clauses with one of the coordinating conjunctions (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet), and use a comma before the connecting word.

_________________________, and _________________________.

He enjoys walking through the country, and he often goes backpacking on his vacations.

 

2. When you do not have a connecting word (or when you use a connecting word other than and, but, for, or nor, so, or yet between the two independent clauses) use a semicolon (;).
__________________________;_____________________________.

He often watched TV when there were only reruns; she preferred to read instead.

 

or
__________________________; however,____________________.

He often watched TV when there were only reruns; however, she preferred to read instead.

 

So, run-ons and fused sentences are terms describing two independent clauses which are joined together with no connecting word or punctuation to separate the clauses.

Incorrect: They weren't dangerous criminals they were detectives in disguise.

Correct: They weren't dangerous criminals; they were detectives in disguise.

 

Incorrect: I didn't know which job I wanted I was too confused to decide.

Correct: I didn't know which job I wanted, and I was too confused to decide.

An e-mail to a relative

Dear Andreia,
Hello! How was your arrival in Chicago? Is still snowing? How I wish to be with you... please don't think I'm an envy person, maybe one day I can go with my babies and I take you to help me!
As you know Francisco was born, he is so wonderful! Last tuesday he did one month. Antonio is a little jealous, but we are trying to make him understand that is good to have a brother. He is not alone anymore. Sometimes Antonio asks me to carry Francisco. He lays in my bed then I put Francisco in his arms carefully. He likes do it very much! I took a picture of them, I'll send to you in the next letter.
My new house is very comfy, there's a big garden. It is very simple and small but it's my house. It's so good to arrive there...
Well, I have to go, there's a baby waiting for lunch. Taking care of two kids is a taught work!
I hope September will came soon to see you and to see Francisco bigger!
Send me news!
Miss you,
Love,

Malu.

Written Quiz - Unit 1

You should pay special attention to:
- to vs. for
- suffixes
- phrasal verbs
- writing (think about the topics we have discussed in this unit)

An e-mail to a friend.

Hello Luana,
Long time no see. How have you been? How's life there in Uberlândia? I guess we won't see each other for a while now that you moved to your father's place. At least the internet is available to us whenever we want to get connected.
I bet you guys are getting along well. I remember you once told me that you'd rather live with your father than with your Mom.
I'm pretty sure you enjoy your new job a lot. What is your office like? What about your workmates?
I am still working many hours a day but things here couldn't be better.
When I pass by your old house on my way to work it reminds me of us chatting on the porch about boyfriends and hang outs. I miss you, girl!
Speaking of boyfriends, how's your love life? Mine is great. Unfortunatelly my man and I don't have much time to see each other now that he is studying. I know he will be the greatest web designer.
Guess what? I'm trying to get my driver's licence. I can't wait to drive my car!
Well, I had better go now. I have got lots of homework to do.
Write me soon.
                                                                                       Affectionately,
                                                                                                                  Mariana Diamond

XOXO

 Here is a typical use of "XOXO":

Learn more:
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=450133

Finally I found time to be a part of this blog team!! XOXO