Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous

We use the present perfect simple for a complete action. It has stopped raining now, so we don’t need the umbrella.      (=it isn’t raining now.) He has read 32 pages so far. (=he isn’t reading now.) We have washed dishes. (=They are clean now.) You have broken this computer. (=it isn’t working.)

We use the present perfect continuous for an action happening over a period of time. lt has been raining for two hours. (=lt began raining two hours ago and it is still raining.) He has been reading for 2 hours.(=he is still reading.) We have been waiting here for 2 hours.(=we are waiting now.) Nicole has been playing the piano for 45 minutes.(=she is still playing the piano.)

Present Perfect and Past Simple 2

We use the Present Perfect for a state which has gone on up to the present: We have lived here for ten years.(=we still live here) We use the Present Perfect for a period of time that continues until now.  For example: today I this week I since 2010 Tom lives in Vancouver. He has lived there for six years. Situations and states that started in the past and are still true. It hasn’t rained this week. I have played tennis hockey before. Have you seen this week’s magazine? (it is still this week)

We use the Past Simple for a state in the past, in a period which is finished: We lived there for ten years. (=we don’t live here.) We use the past simple for a finished time in the past. For example: yesterday I last week I from 2010 to 2017. Tom lived in Vancouver for seven years. Now he lives in Miami. Completed actions: lt didn't rain last week. I played hockey at college. Did you see last week’s magazine?

Present Perfect and Past Simple 1

The Present Perfect tells us about the past and the present: She has had her motorbike for over seven years. Jack has repaired the chair. (So it’s all right now.)

The Past Simple tells us about the past, a time which is completed: Tom and I played a game of chess and he won. Jack repaired the chair. (It may be broken again now.)

Past Continuous and Past Simple

Past Continuous We use the Past Continuous for an action that we were in the middle of. We  were driving home.(=we were in the middle of our journey.) We often use the Past Continuous to describe the background. The sun was shining.

Past Simple We use the Past Simple  for a complete action in the past. We drove home.(=we finished our journey)       We use the Past Simple for actions in a story. We arrived at the hotel.

We often use the Past Simple and Past Continuous to say that something happened

in the middle of something else:                                                                                  

Longer action: Past Continuous          Shorter action: Past Simple

• Matt phoned while we were having dinner.
• I was playing on my computer when it suddenly crashed.
• It was raining when I got up.