Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous

Its game time!

Lets invent a story!
The game begins when a student says ONE WORD. Then
another student adds a NEW WORD, and so on.
You need to use the vocabulary weve learnt about CRIME.
You need to pay attention to the use of articles and countable
and uncountable nouns!
 PATTERNS: Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I/You/We/They HAVE + past participle HAVENT (have not) + HAVE + I + past
past participle participle?
He/She/It HAS + past participle HASNT (has not) + past HAS + she + past
participle participle?

We use the present perfect simple for:

actions and situations that happened at an specified time before the momento of speaking:
Ive never heard of that pop group before Shes just turned off the TV.

Actions and situations that started in the past and still happen at the momento of speaking:
She has written short stories since she was a child.
 PATTERNS: Present Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Continuous Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I/You/We/They HAVE HAVENT HAVE
+ BEEN + BEEN +I
+ verb with -ING + verb with -ING + BEEN
+ verb with -ING?
He/She/It HAS HASNT HAS
+ BEEN + BEEN +I
+ verb with -ING + verb with -ING + BEEN
+ verb with -ING?
We use the present perfect continuous for:
actions and situations that started in the past and still continue at the momento of speaking:
She has been working as a jounalist fot three years.

Temporary actions and situations in the recent past:

Ive just been reading an interesting aticle about celebrities.
 TIME EXPRESSIONS
FOR (period of time) Ive lived here for 10 years.

SINCE (point in time) Ive lived here since 2007. FOR (period of time) I have been living in Belgium
for three years.
JUST He has just woken up.
SINCE (point in time) I have been living in Belgium
ALREADY I have already got that CD. since 2014.
I have got that CD already.
JUST He has just been playing
YET I havent seen that film yet. football.
Have you seen that film yet?
RECENTLY/LATELY Ive been studying very hard
STILL I still havent found my sunglasses. lately!
RECENTLY/LATELY Ive eaten a lot of chocolate recently! ALL DAY, ALL MORNING, etc. Ive been listening to my
SO FAR Ive read 7 short stories so far. teacher all morning. I need a
BEFORE Have you eaten Chinese food before? break now!

EVER/NEVER Have you ever been to China?

Ive never been to China.
The Truman Show
Read and discuss the questions below:

1. Have you ever watched a reality TV show? If yes, which one or ones.
2. What do you think of reality TV? Please explain.
3. Why do you think reality TV is so popular these days?
4. Would you ever go on a reality TV show? Why?
Complete the blanks using either present perfect or present perfect continuous.
If either is possible, make a choice and explain your reasoning.

They _________ (get) about 5,000 camera in the town.

Truman __________ (live) in a fake world since he was a baby.
He wonders whether his whole life ________ (building) towards something.
Truman ____________ (want) to be an explorer since he was a child.
Recently, strange things ______________ (happen).
His best friend __________ (know) him since he was seven years old.
The producer of the show believes he _______ (give) Truman the chance to
live a normal life.
 Speaking
The Truman Show is an extreme example of reality TV, especially since he had no awareness
or choice in the matter. Usually during a reality TV show, the contestants are interviewed as
to what has been happening and what they have been doing.

In pairs, talk about what you have been doing recently. Do not use specific time phrases such
as yesterday or on Tuesday for which you must use the simple past. Instead use general
time phrases such as recently, lately, this week, already, just etc.

Consider whether you are talking about a result or permanent state (present perfect), or a
duration or temporary state (present perfect continuous). Remember, non-continuous verbs
cannot be used in present perfect continuous. You must use the simple present perfect!