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Present perfect with for and since
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Estrella from Spain
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Burcin from Turkey
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'Which is correct: I鈥檝e been to Canada for ten months or I鈥檝e been in Canada for ten months?' (Estrella)'My biggest problem is use of the present perfect and present perfect continuous tense.' (Burcin)
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Roger Woodham
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I鈥檝e been to Canada.I鈥檝e been in Canada for ten months.
Been is used in two different ways here, Estrella. If you say: I鈥檝e been to Canada , that means that you have visited Canada and have now returned home. You are not still there. But if you say you have been somewhere for ten months, that means you are still there. For this reason we cannot use for ten months in the first sentence.
Present perfect: for finished actions important now
One of the functions of the present perfect is to describe finished actions that are important now. I鈥檝e been to Canada fits into this category. Study the following examples. They belong in this category too:
You have received a letter from the examination authorities. You are smiling because you have opened the letter and have discovered that you have passed the FCE exam.
Your brother has passed his driving test and has just bought a new car. You have decided to ask him for a lift to work every day
I鈥檝e been in Canada for ten months.Your second sentence, Estrella, tells us that you have been there for ten months, are still there and will probably remain there for some time. This is a further function of the present perfect: to connect the past with the present and to suggest continuation in the future. The following examples all illustrate this idea:
- Do you know Hamish?- Of course. I鈥檝e known him for years.
- You don鈥檛 look very happy!- I鈥檝e had a headache all day and I can鈥檛 get rid of it.
- How did the operation go?- The doctor says I鈥檝e made a good recovery and should be back at work in two weeks.
- I haven鈥檛 seen the Smiths lately.- No, they鈥檝e moved away from the area.
The present perfect continuous, Burcin, is particularly useful for emphasising the continuing nature of the activity, It focuses on the length of time actions have lasted and is often used with for and since time expressions. It usually answers the how long question:
- How long have you been living in Canada now?- Ever since 1992.
- How long have you been learning French?- For about eight years, on and off.
- Have you been working all that time?- No, I鈥檝e only been working since the children started school.
I鈥檝e had six different jobs since I left school.But I鈥檝e been out of work since Christmas.
I haven鈥檛 smoked a cigarette since ten o鈥檆lock last night.I鈥檝e been much healthier since I gave up smoking.
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