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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
✓
Differentiate between completed achievements (present perfect simple) and ongoing activities (present perfect continuous) in a professional context
✓
Articulate your career history and current project responsibilities with greater precision during introductions and meetings
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Contrast the emphasis of each tense to convey specific meanings about your work
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Formulate natural-sounding answers to common interview and networking questions about your professional background
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Key for this lesson

Before you speak, ask yourself: "Am I trying to highlight the result or the process?" Your answer will guide your choice of tense and make your communication more precise.

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Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Present Perfect Simple

Results & Achievements

have/has + past participle

Use for:

  • Results & Achievements: "I've implemented a new CRM system."
  • Life/Work Experiences: "I've traveled to Japan twice."
  • States with for/since: "I've been the Head of Marketing since 2019."
already yet just ever never
Present Perfect Continuous

Ongoing Process & Duration

have/has + been + verb-ing

Use for:

  • Ongoing/Unfinished Actions: "I've been implementing a new CRM for three months."
  • Recent Continuous Activity: "I've been baking all morning."
  • Emphasis on Duration: Focus on the process, not the result
for since all day recently lately
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Key Signal Words

Both tenses: for, since
Often Simple: already, yet, just, ever, never
Often Continuous: all day, recently, lately

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Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Professional Contexts

🤝 Networking Event: "I've been leading their AI division for about two years now."
📊 Project Update: "We've been testing the new software, and we've already identified three critical bugs."
💼 Job Interview: "I've managed cross-functional teams. For the last year, I've been specializing in agile project management."
📈 Performance Review: "You've made excellent progress. I can see you've been working hard to improve client relations."
👥 Team Introduction: "I've worked in logistics for over a decade, and recently I've been focusing on supply chain optimization."

Everyday Contexts

😴 Explaining tiredness: "I've been helping my brother move house all weekend."
🎸 Discussing a hobby: "I've played the guitar for years, but I've only been taking professional lessons since January."
🏠 Community meeting: "Our group has raised over $5,000, and we've been planning another fundraising event."
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Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
✓

Correct Professional Usage

✓
"I have known my colleague for five years."

State verbs (know, be, like, own) use Simple, not Continuous

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"I've been reading this 200-page report this morning."

Continuous for ongoing, potentially unfinished activity

✓
"For the last two weeks, I've been writing the project proposal."

Continuous to emphasize the ongoing process

✓
"I've written the project proposal."

Simple to emphasize the finished result

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Common Business Mistakes

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"I have been knowing my colleague for five years."

State verbs don't use continuous. Use: "I have known..."

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"I have read this 200-page report this morning." (when still reading)

Sounds like you finished it. Use: "I've been reading..." for ongoing activity

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"For the last two weeks, I've written the project proposal." (when emphasizing process)

Less focused on duration/effort. Use: "I've been writing..." for process emphasis

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Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to Maria, a new Project Manager, having a welcome conversation with Liam, her Department Head:

🎵 Audio: A Welcome Conversation
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0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Liam: Maria, welcome aboard! It's great to finally have you here. We've been looking forward to you starting.

Maria: Thanks, Liam! I'm excited to get going. I've already met the team, and everyone has been very welcoming.

Liam: Excellent. I've read your file, of course, but tell me a bit more about your background. You were at OmniCorp for a while, right?

Maria: That's right. I worked there for six years. I started in a junior role and eventually became a senior analyst. I've managed several key accounts and led two successful product launches.

Liam: Impressive. And what have you been working on more recently? Your CV mentioned a focus on data analytics.

Maria: Yes, for the past 18 months, I've been specializing in that area. I've been developing dashboards to track user engagement and optimize marketing spend. It's an area I'm passionate about.

Liam: That's exactly the expertise we need. As you know, we've been planning the rollout of Project Atlas, and your skills will be critical. I've been meaning to schedule a kick-off meeting for that.

Maria: Perfect. I've already reviewed the initial project brief, so I'm ready to jump in whenever you are.

Question 1: What are two key achievements Maria mentions from her time at OmniCorp?

💡 Hint: Listen for what Maria says she "has managed" and "led" at her previous company.

Question 2: What activity has Maria been focusing on for the last 18 months?

💡 Hint: Listen for "For the past 18 months, I've been..."

Question 3: When Liam says, "We've been looking forward to you starting," what does the tense emphasize?

💡 Hint: Present Perfect Continuous emphasizes duration and ongoing feelings.

Question 4: Maria says she "has reviewed" the project brief. Why does she use the present perfect simple here?

💡 Hint: She says she's "ready to jump in" - the review is complete.
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Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes

Choose the correct option for each professional situation:

1

You are in a job interview. Which sentence best emphasizes a completed, successful project?

A For the last quarter, I have been leading the marketing campaign.
B I have led the most successful marketing campaign in our company's history.
C I was leading a marketing campaign.
2

Your manager asks why you look so busy. Which response best explains your recent, continuous activity?

A I have organized the files for the audit.
B I organize the files for the audit.
C I've been organizing the files for the audit all morning.
3

You are updating your LinkedIn profile. Which option is the most natural way to describe your current, ongoing role?

A Since 2021, I have been working as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte.
B Since 2021, I have worked as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte.
C Since 2021, I work as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte.
4

Which sentence correctly uses a state verb?

A I have been knowing the CEO for ten years.
B I have known the CEO for ten years.
C I am knowing the CEO for ten years.
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Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Gap Fill - Tech Startup Context

Complete each sentence with the correct present perfect simple or present perfect continuous form.

1.

We (develop) _______ this app for six months, and we still haven't fixed all the bugs.

💡 Hint: The action is ongoing ("still haven't fixed") - use continuous for duration.
2.

So far, our marketing team (secure) _______ partnerships with three major influencers.

💡 Hint: "So far" + specific number = completed result. Use simple.
3.

I'm exhausted because I (troubleshoot) _______ server issues all night.

💡 Hint: "All night" + explaining current tiredness = continuous for recent activity.

Exercise B: Gap Fill - Education Context

1.

Dr. Evans (teach) _______ at this university since 2015.

💡 Hint: "Since 2015" with a continuing state - both forms work, but simple is often preferred for long-term roles.
2.

The students (prepare) _______ for their final exams all term, and they seem ready.

💡 Hint: "All term" emphasizes duration of the preparation process.
3.

The administration (just/release) _______ the new curriculum guidelines.

💡 Hint: "Just" with a completed action = simple form.

Exercise C: Error Correction & Rewriting

Find the error in each sentence and rewrite it correctly.

1.

❌ "Our firm has been being a market leader in Asia for over a decade."

💡 Hint: "Be" is a state verb - it doesn't use continuous form.
2.

"I have sent you three emails this morning about the quarterly report."
Rewrite to emphasize the ongoing action of trying to contact someone.

💡 Hint: Use continuous to show the repeated, ongoing effort.
3.

"The new intern has been showing great potential since she started."
This is correct, but rewrite to focus on a specific, completed achievement.

💡 Hint: Use simple to emphasize the result/achievement rather than the process.
4.

"We have been selling over 10,000 units this month alone."
Rewrite to emphasize the result/number.

💡 Hint: Use simple to highlight the specific achievement.
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Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
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Preparation for Class

Use these tasks to prepare for speaking practice with your teacher. Focus on distinguishing between achievements (Simple) and ongoing activities (Continuous).

💼 Task 1: Controlled Practice (1 min)

Complete the following prompts with your own professional information:

  • "So far in my career, I've..." (mention 2-3 achievements)
  • "For the last few months, I've been..." (describe an ongoing project or responsibility)
  • "I haven't... yet, but I'd like to." (mention a professional goal)
🤝 Task 2: Guided Practice - Networking Role-play (2 min)

Role-play a networking conversation with a partner. Take turns:

  • Person A: You're at an industry conference. Introduce yourself, say what company you work for, and mention what you've been working on recently.
  • Person B: Respond and ask a follow-up question about an achievement they have had in their career.

Useful phrases: "So, what have you been up to professionally?", "That's interesting. Have you ever...?", "Recently, I've been focusing on..."

🎤 Task 3: Free Practice - Interview Question (1 min)

Answer this interview question:

"Could you tell us about a significant contribution you have made in your current role and what new skills you have been developing lately?"

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Summary: Present Perfect Simple vs. Continuous

Emphasize Results: Use Simple for achievements (e.g., "I have increased efficiency by 20%")
Describe the Process: Use Continuous for ongoing work (e.g., "Lately, I've been managing a team transition")
Combine for Full Picture: A strong introduction often uses both tenses together!

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