PRESENT CONTINUOUS and PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS - what’s the difference in English?

Summary

In this video, Agnieszka Murdoch explains the difference between the present continuous and present perfect continuous tenses in English. She demonstrates how the present continuous describes actions happening right now (e.g., 'It is raining') while the present perfect continuous focuses on actions that started in the past and continue into the present or have visible results (e.g., 'It has been raining'). Through examples and a practice exercise, viewers learn when to use each tense, with a focus on emphasizing duration and consequence. The video concludes with an interactive quiz to test understanding.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video explains the difference between the present continuous tense and the present perfect continuous tense in English.
• 😀 Present continuous is used for actions happening right now at the specific moment.
• 😀 Example of present continuous: 'It is raining.' This refers to rain occurring right now.
• 😀 Present perfect continuous describes actions that started in the past and continue up to the present or have visible results now.
• 😀 Example of present perfect continuous: 'It has been raining.' This emphasizes the duration from past to now.
• 😀 Present perfect continuous can also highlight the consequences of an action, even if the action has just finished.
• 😀 Example of consequence usage: 'It has been raining' can indicate wet ground even if it is not raining now.
• 😀 The video includes practice exercises to help viewers distinguish between the two tenses.
• 😀 Practice example: 'There's a stain on your top. I have been drinking coffee.' The stain is the visible result.
• 😀 Present continuous focuses on the action at the moment, while present perfect continuous focuses on the period or result of the action.
• 😀 Additional practice examples in the video reinforce understanding of when to use each tense correctly.
• 😀 Understanding these tenses helps communicate the timing, duration, and consequences of actions more accurately in English.

Q & A

What is the main difference between the present continuous tense and the present perfect continuous tense?

The present continuous tense (e.g., 'It is raining') describes an action happening right now, at this moment. The present perfect continuous tense (e.g., 'It has been raining') refers to an action that started in the past and is still continuing, emphasizing the duration of the action.

When do we use the present continuous tense?

We use the present continuous tense to describe actions that are happening right now, in the present moment. For example, 'It is raining' describes rain happening at this moment.

What does the present perfect continuous tense focus on?

The present perfect continuous tense focuses on the duration of an action that started in the past and is still continuing. For example, 'It has been raining' emphasizes how long it has been raining.

Can the present perfect continuous tense describe a situation where an action has finished but the consequences are visible?

Yes, the present perfect continuous can describe an action that has finished but has visible consequences. For example, 'It has been raining' can refer to rain that has stopped, but the ground is still wet as a result.

How does the present perfect continuous tense differ from the simple present tense?

The present perfect continuous tense emphasizes the duration of an action that started in the past and is still ongoing, while the simple present tense describes habitual actions or general truths. For example, 'I have been tidying up' (present perfect continuous) vs. 'I tidy up every morning' (simple present).

In the sentence 'It has been raining,' what does 'has been raining' imply?

'Has been raining' implies that the rain started in the past and continues to the present, emphasizing the duration of the action.

In the example 'I have been tidying up all morning,' why is the present perfect continuous used?

The present perfect continuous is used because it describes an ongoing action (tidying up) that started in the past (this morning) and continues to the present, with a focus on the duration of the activity.

In the exercise 'There’s a stain on your top. It's because I am drinking coffee or I have been drinking coffee,' which is the correct choice and why?

'I have been drinking coffee' is the correct choice because it emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action (drinking coffee) and the visible result (the stain on the top).

Why would you choose 'It is raining' instead of 'It has been raining' in the sentence 'Look outside, it is raining'?

'It is raining' is used here because we are talking about the action happening at this exact moment. It’s a present, continuous action that is occurring right now.

What is the correct tense to use if you're describing an action you started earlier today and are still doing, such as tidying up all morning?

The correct tense is the present perfect continuous ('I have been tidying up all morning'), as it emphasizes the ongoing action and its duration from the past to the present.