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