Duration / Repetition
Indicating continuous vs. reoccurring activity
Present Perfect — Nonprogressive vs. Progressive
| DURATION | REPETITION |
|---|---|
DURATION – Use the nonprogressive tense to focus on duration of an action or event. |
REPETITION – Use the progressive tense to focus on the repetitive or reoccurring nature of an action or event. |
Engineers have worked to save the Tower of Pisa! (unspecified past) |
Engineers have been working to save the Tower of Pisa! |
Engineers have studied the foundation since 1817. (unspecified past) |
Engineers have been studying the foundation since 1817. |
Engineers have applied steel braces. (unspecified past) |
Engineers have been applying steel braces for several months. |
Engineers have stabilized the foundation. (unspecified past) |
Engineers have been stabilizing the foundation since 1838. |
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Present Perfect Adverbs
| NONPROGRESSIVE & PROGRESSIVE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Adverbs used with present perfect tell us when: how long or since when, and they express complex aspects such as frequency of occurrence, experience, recency, repetition or speaker's expectation for completion. Present perfect sentences focus on the duration of time more than the activity. All four columns of adverbs can be used with this tense. |
Present perfect progressive sentences tend to focus more on the activity — its repetition (several times) or ongoing (still) duration. Most present perfect adverbs are used with the progressive. However, an adverb of repetition is not generally used (and is awkward) with the progressive because the tense already carries the meaning of repetition. |
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ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY Use with habitual activities that began in the past and continue to the present. |
SO FAR / THIS Use with activities that began in the indefinite past and continue to the present. |
SINCE / FOR Use with activities that began in the past and continue to the present. |
REPETITION (not often used with progressive) Use with repeated activities that began in the past and continue to the present. |
always (routinely, customarily, normally, as a rule, in general) |
so far (to date, up to now, until now) |
since noon (exact time – midnight, 3:00 a.m.) |
repeatedly |
usually (most of the time) |
this week (morning, evening, week, month, year) |
since this morning (today, this week, this year, etc.) |
several times |
often (frequently, half of the time) |
over the past two years |
since July 2003 (summer, 1900, the 4th century) |
continuously |
sometimes (occasionally, on occasion) |
in my life (in these times) |
ever since then (I met you, he arrived) |
continually |
rarely (seldom, hardly ever) |
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for a minute (hour, day, week, month, year, decade) |
over and over |
never (not ever) |
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for a while (quantity of time) |
again and again |
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for the time being (for now) (quantity of time) |
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Adverb Use Examples
| PRESENT PERFECT NONPROGRESSIVE | PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE |
|---|---|
Adverbs used with present perfect nonprogressive place emphasis on the activity. When contrasted with the progressive tense, it may indicate completion or permanence. |
Adverbs used with present perfect progressive 1) emphasize duration, ongoing activity; or 2) specify time for temporary activity. |
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY They have always worked to save the Tower of Pisa. duration, permanent |
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY They have always been working to save the Tower of Pisa. emphasizes ongoing, repetition |
SO FAR They have worked efficiently so far. |
SO FAR They have been working efficiently so far. emphasizes ongoing, repetition |
THIS They have worked very hard this year. |
SO FAR / THIS They have been working very hard this year. emphasizes ongoing, repetition |
SINCE / FOR They have worked for twelve years / since 1998. |
SINCE / FOR They have been working for twelve years / since 1998. emphasizes ongoing, repetition |
REPETITION They have tried several times to save the Tower of Pisa. |
REPETITION *They have been trying several times to save the Tower of Pisa. They have been telling you over and over not to do that. okay |
Practice 1
Adverbs for and since
Select verbs from the menus to create a grammatical sentence. Remember all parts must "agree".
Practice 2
Placing Emphasis on Repeated Activity
Decide whether to use the present perfect progressive or nonprogressive
- Select the word from each menu that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.
Also see: Stative Verbs