Practice
Present continuous and present perfect: understand the difference
Sign in to saveLina is writing an email now. She has written two messages already. Both sentences connect to the present, but they describe different stages of an action.
Choose the present continuous or present perfect by deciding whether an action is in progress now or has a result that matters now.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
She is writing now, and she has written two messages already. /ʃiː ɪz ˈraɪtɪŋ naʊ, ænd ʃiː hæz ˈrɪtən tuː ˈmesɪdʒɪz ɔːlˈredi/
The short answer
Use the present continuous, am, is, or are plus a verb ending in -ing, for something in progress now or around now. Use the present perfect, have or has plus a past participle, for a past action with a present result, experience, or unfinished time period.
I am reading a new novel this week.
Why it works: The reading is in progress during this week, so use the present continuous.
4 more examples
-
Lina is writing an email now.
The action is taking place now, so use is plus writing.
Not this:Lina
has writtenan email now. What changes: This form reports a completed result. It does not describe the writing in progress. -
Lina has written two messages already.
The messages are complete, and already links that result to the present.
Not this:Lina
is writingtwo messages already. What changes: Use the continuous form only if the messages are still being written; already usually points to a completed result here. -
We have lived here for three years.
The situation began in the past and continues until now.
Not this:We
are livinghere for three years. What changes: For and a length of time usually call for the present perfect when the situation continues to now. -
The children are playing in the garden.
The activity is visible and in progress at the moment.
Not this:The children
have playedin the garden. What changes: This form refers to past play with a present connection, not to the game happening now.
Read the full guide
Ask one question: is the action still happening, or are you reporting what has happened by now? That decision usually gives you the right tense.
Choose by the stage of the action
The present continuous shows an action that is underway. The present perfect shows what has happened by the present moment. Start by deciding whether you are watching the action happen or reporting its result.
Lina is writing an email now.
Writing is in progress, so use is writing.
Lina has written two messages already.
The messages are complete, so use has written.
Which form fits an action happening at this moment: is cooking or has cooked?
Use is cooking. It describes the action while it is happening.
Build each tense correctly
For the present continuous, use am, is, or are followed by an -ing form. For the present perfect, use have or has followed by a past participle. Regular past participles often end in -ed, but many common verbs have irregular forms such as written, gone, and seen.
The children are playing in the garden.
Are plus playing makes a present continuous verb phrase.
The children have played in the garden.
Have plus played makes a present perfect verb phrase.
Complete the sentence: My brother ___ finished his homework.
My brother has finished his homework. Brother is singular, so use has.
Use present perfect for a result now
A present perfect sentence often explains a current situation. You do not need to say exactly when the past action happened. Words such as already, just, and yet often help you see this meaning.
I have lost my keys.
The loss happened before now, and the missing keys matter now.
Mira has just arrived.
The arrival is complete, but it happened very recently.
Choose the form for a completed task with a result now: has sent or is sending?
Use has sent when the task is complete and the sent message is the present result.
Use present continuous for temporary activity
The present continuous can describe an activity around the present time, even when it is not happening during this exact second. It often works for temporary routines, current projects, and changing situations.
I am reading a new novel this week.
The reading is a current project, so the continuous form fits.
They are staying with friends this month.
This month shows a temporary arrangement around now.
Choose the form for a temporary plan this month: are staying or have stayed?
Use are staying when the arrangement is continuing this month.
Talk about time that continues to now
Use the present perfect with for and since when a state or repeated action began in the past and still continues. For names a period of time. Since names the starting point. Use the continuous form only when the action itself is the meaning you want to stress.
We have lived here for three years.
For three years measures a period that reaches the present.
She has worked there since March.
Since March gives the starting point of work that continues now.
Before you go
Remember this
Use the present continuous for an action in progress now or around now. Use the present perfect for a completed action with a present result, an experience, or a situation that continues to now. Avoid both forms with a finished past time unless another part of the sentence changes the meaning.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Present continuous and present perfect: understand the difference"
What is the main difference between present continuous and present perfect?
The present continuous describes an action that is underway now or around now. The present perfect connects a completed or continuing past action to now. Lina is writing an email describes the work in progress, while Lina has written two messages reports completed results.
Lina is writing an email now.
Can I use present perfect with already?
Yes. Already often appears in present perfect sentences when something is complete sooner than expected or before the present moment. Lina has written two messages already reports completed messages. The exact past time does not need to be stated.
Lina has written an email now.
Why do we say have lived here for three years?
Use the present perfect when a situation started in the past and continues to now. We have lived here for three years means the people began living there three years ago and still live there. For introduces the length of the period.
Lina has written two messages already.
Can present continuous describe something that is not happening this second?
Yes. The present continuous can describe a temporary activity or current project around the present time. I am reading a new novel this week does not mean the person is reading at every second of the week. It describes the current project.
Lina is writing two messages already.
Can I use present perfect with yesterday?
Usually, no. Yesterday is a finished past time, so use a past simple form: I saw her yesterday. Use the present perfect when the exact completed time is not named and the action has a connection to now, as in I have lost my keys.
I am reading a new novel this week.