Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hda]

Dear tutor,

I can't get the difference between these two sentences:

"Jack has played soccer since junior high."

"Jack has been playing soccer since junior high."

Could you please give me a clue of when to use Present Perfect Simple or Continuous with SINCE or FOR?

Thank you very much.

[Suzanne]

Hi!

Both senences are similar, aren't they? Either one is correct. Often they are used the same, but the focus on the continuing situation (in this case, Jack playing soccer) is stronger in the present perfect continuous. To emphasize the length of time or to show that the activity has not stopped, you might want to choose the present perfect continuous.

Here are a few hints, from Susan Kesler Bland's excellent books on grammar. I especially like Intermediate Grammar: From Form to Meaning and Use, published by Oxford University Press. I got my copy from Amazon.com.

Present Perfect Continuous describes actions that began in the past and are continuing at the present time. To emphasize that an action is continuing up to the prsent, for and since are often used:
Examples:
Jack has been playing soccer since junior high. (He's still playing soccer.)
I've been doing homework since this morning. (I'm still doing it.)

Present Perfect is used with for and since with stative verbs (have, own, know, etc.) to show that the state began in the past and continues into the present.
Examples:
"I've known him for ten years"
"He has had an interest in soccer since he was a child."

You have asked a challenging question! I hope this helps! If not, please let me know.

[EnglishRaven]

Good question!

To me the difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous is similar to the difference between present simple and present continuous.

The present perfect form names an activity that was performed in general, whereas the use of present perfect continuous gives the sense of much more frequent and ongoing participation in the activity over the whole time period.

Hope that helps!

~ Jason
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