What is the difference between the present perfect and past continuous tenses?

Tenses Questions



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What is the difference between the present perfect and past continuous tenses?

The present perfect tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and has a connection to the present. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb "have" or "has" followed by the past participle of the main verb. Example: "I have lived in this city for five years."

On the other hand, the past continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that was happening in the past. It is formed by using the past tense of the auxiliary verb "be" (was/were) followed by the present participle of the main verb. Example: "She was studying when the phone rang."

In summary, the main difference between the present perfect and past continuous tenses is that the present perfect focuses on the connection between the past and the present, while the past continuous focuses on an ongoing action in the past.