⏰Tenses

Common Confusions

Easily confused tenses compared side by side — when to use which?

Easily confused tenses compared side by side — when to use which?

Present Perfect focuses on the result; Present Perfect Continuous focuses on the process and duration.

I have read that book. (Result: I know the content now.)

I have been reading that book. (Process: I am still reading it.)

She has lived here for ten years. (Focus on the fact of living here.)

She has been living here for ten years. (Focus on the duration and continuity.)

How long have you known him? (NOT: have you been knowing — "know" is a stative verb.)

Past Simple is for finished time; Present Perfect connects past to present.

I lived in London in 2019. (Finished time — "in 2019" is over.)

I have lived in London since 2019. (Unfinished time — still living there.)

Did you see the movie? (Asking about a specific past occasion.)

Have you seen the movie? (Asking about your experience up to now.)

Shakespeare wrote many plays. (He is dead — his career is finished.)

Past Simple for completed actions; Past Continuous for actions in progress (often interrupted).

I was reading when the phone rang. (Reading was in progress; ringing interrupted it.)

She walked to school yesterday. (Completed action — just stating a fact.)

While I was cooking, he was watching TV. (Two parallel ongoing actions.)