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B1 — Duration and Ongoing Actions

B1 · Intermédiaire Chapitre 22

Duration and Ongoing Actions

Q: Comment 'for' et 'since' sont-ils différents ?

'For' indique une *durée* (une période de temps), comme "for two hours". 'Since' indique un *point de départ* dans le passé, comme "since yesterday" ou "since 2020".

7 Règles totales

83 exemples

6 min

Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of connecting the past to your present reality with confidence.

Distinguish between 'for' and 'since' to measure duration.
Use Present Perfect to describe unfinished time periods.
Describe ongoing actions and states that started in the past.

Bridge the gap between yesterday and today.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Ready to unlock how we talk about things that have been happening for a while? This chapter will help you confidently describe ongoing situations, like how long you've known someone or what you've been doing since morning. You'll soon sound much more natural!

Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Actions en Cours)
Avec des actions au Present Perfect, for indique une durée, et since un
point de départ
.
Present Perfect avec expressions de temps (for, since, yet)
Maîtrise 'for', 'since' et 'yet' pour décrire parfaitement les actions et états 'ongoing actions' et 'states'.
Présent Perfect: Choses non terminées (Aujourd'hui, Cette semaine)
Connecte les actions passées au présent, surtout si la période est pas finie! Pense Unfinished time et Current relevance.
Présent Perfect: Jusqu'à présent (à ce jour)
Le Present Perfect, c'est ton pont entre les événements passés et leur pertinence 'now'.
Present Perfect avec Verbes d'État (J'ai connu, elle a été)
Pour exprimer des états et des sentiments 'ongoing' depuis le passé jusqu'au présent, utilise le 'Present Perfect'.
Présent Parfait : Changements au fil du temps (have/has + V3)
Fais le lien entre les transformations passées et l'état présent en utilisant have/has + V3 pour un anglais clair et naturel.
Parler d'actions en cours (Present Perfect Continuous)
Maîtriser le Present Perfect Continuous relie le passé au présent, montrant la durée et l'impact d'une action.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

1
By the end you will be able to: Explain your personal history and current status using the correct tense.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Mastering how to talk about

duration and ongoing actions

is a game-changer for B1 English grammar learners! This chapter is your key to sounding much more natural and articulate in everyday conversations. You'll move beyond simply stating facts and start connecting past experiences with your present reality.

Imagine being able to explain how long you've known your best friend, what you've been doing since you woke up this morning, or how your city has changed over the years. These aren't just advanced concepts; they're essential for truly expressing yourself in English.

By focusing on the Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous, we'll bridge the gap between past events and their current relevance. This means you'll confidently discuss things that started in the past and are still true now, or actions that began previously and are still in progress. These structures are vital for expressing a sense of continuity, whether it's describing your experiences up to now or noting things that haven't finished yet.

Get ready to elevate your communication and clearly express those long-term situations and evolving circumstances.

How This Grammar Works

At its heart, this chapter is about connecting the past to the present, focusing on duration and actions that aren't quite finished. The star of the show is the Present Perfect (have/has + past participle). We use it to describe actions that started in the past and continue up to now. For example, to state how long something has been happening, we use 'for' (for a period of time) or 'since' (since a specific start point).

Think:

I have lived here for five years

She has studied English since 2020.

Here, 'living' and 'studying' are ongoing.

The Present Perfect is also perfect for discussing things not finished yet, especially when the time period is still active. If it's Monday morning, you might say, "I haven't had breakfast yet today" – because 'today' isn't over, and you could still eat. Similarly, you can use it with time expressions like 'this week,' 'this month,' or 'so far' to summarise experiences within an unfinished period.

I have visited two new places this month so far.

Another crucial application is with state verbs (verbs describing states, not actions, like 'know,' 'be,' 'love,' 'understand'). With these, we use the Present Perfect to show a state began in the past and still continues:

I have known him for ten years,

not

I have been knowing him.

We also use the Present Perfect to describe changes over time:

The city has become much greener.

Finally, when we want to emphasise the ongoing nature or duration of an activity, we turn to the Present Perfect Continuous (have/has + been + -ing verb).

I have been studying for three hours

highlights the continuous effort.

The key difference is often emphasis: Present Perfect for result/fact, Present Perfect Continuous for the activity's duration/process.

Common Mistakes

1✗ Wrong: I live here for five years.

✓ Correct: I have lived here for five years.

Explanation: When you want to express how long something has been true or happening and it's still true now, you need the Present Perfect, not the Simple Present.

1✗ Wrong: She is knowing him since 2010.

✓ Correct: She has known him since 2010.

Explanation: Know is a state verb, and generally, state verbs are not used in continuous forms. Use the Present Perfect to show the duration of a state that started in the past and continues to the present.

1✗ Wrong: I read a book all morning, so I'm tired.

✓ Correct: I have been reading a book all morning, so I'm tired.

Explanation: While

I read a book

is grammatically correct, using the Present Perfect Continuous (have been reading) here emphasises the ongoing action and its effect (being tired) in the present. It highlights the duration of the activity.

Real Conversations

Hi Alex! Long time no see. How have you been?

Hey Maria! I'm good, thanks. I have been working really hard on a new project lately. It has taken up most of my time since January.

Wow, that sounds intense! How many hours have you worked this week so far?

Oh, probably about 50 already. My eyes are tired because I have been staring at screens all day! But I have almost finished the main part of it.

That's great news! I haven't seen you this happy about a project in ages.

Yeah, it's challenging, but I have learned so much. I have never felt this productive!

Quick FAQ

When should I use 'for' vs. 'since' with the Present Perfect?

Use 'for' to specify a duration or period of time (e.g., for two hours,

for a long time

). Use 'since' to specify the starting point of an action or state (e.g., since yesterday, since 2018).

Can I use the Present Perfect with time words like 'today' or 'this week'?

Yes, absolutely! When you use words like 'today,' 'this week,' 'this month,' or 'this year,' and that time period has not finished yet, you typically use the Present Perfect to describe actions or experiences within that ongoing period.

What's the main difference between

I have lived here

and

I have been living here

Both are often correct for duration.

I have lived here for five years

states the fact of living here for that duration.

I have been living here for five years

emphasises the ongoing nature or process of living here. The continuous form can sometimes imply a temporary situation or a sense of personal involvement.

Why can't I use continuous forms with state verbs in the Present Perfect?

State verbs describe states, emotions, or conditions (e.g., 'know,' 'love,' 'understand,' 'be,' 'have' for possession), not active processes. They naturally indicate duration without needing the continuous form. So, instead of

I have been knowing,

we say

I have known.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these structures constantly, making conversation flow naturally when discussing personal history, experiences, and current situations. There can be slight regional differences; for example, American English sometimes uses the Simple Past where British English might prefer the Present Perfect for recent events (

Did you eat yet?

vs.

Have you eaten yet?

However, for emphasizing duration and ongoing actions as covered here, the rules are largely consistent across dialects. In both formal and informal contexts, accurately using the Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous shows a good grasp of temporal relationships and adds sophistication to your communication.

Exemples clés (8)

I have been studying English `for three years` now.

J'étudie l'anglais depuis trois ans maintenant.

Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Actions en Cours)

She hasn't called me `since Monday morning`.

Elle ne m'a pas appelée depuis lundi matin.

Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Actions en Cours)

I haven't seen that new Netflix series yet, but I've heard it's amazing.

Je n'ai pas encore vu cette nouvelle série Netflix, mais j'ai entendu dire qu'elle était géniale.

Present Perfect avec expressions de temps (for, since, yet)

She has lived in London for five years and loves the city.

Elle a vécu à Londres pendant cinq ans et adore la ville.

Present Perfect avec expressions de temps (for, since, yet)

I haven't had breakfast this morning.

Je n'ai pas pris mon petit-déjeuner ce matin.

Présent Perfect: Choses non terminées (Aujourd'hui, Cette semaine)

She has worked on the project a lot this week.

Elle a beaucoup travaillé sur le projet cette semaine.

Présent Perfect: Choses non terminées (Aujourd'hui, Cette semaine)

I have never seen snow in real life.

Je n'ai jamais vu de neige de ma vie.

Présent Perfect: Jusqu'à présent (à ce jour)

She has worked on this project for three months so far.

Elle a travaillé sur ce projet pendant trois mois jusqu'à présent.

Présent Perfect: Jusqu'à présent (à ce jour)

Conseils et astuces (4)

💡

Durée ou Point de départ ?

Pose-toi toujours la question : est-ce que je parle de la *longueur* du temps (for) ou du *moment* où ça a commencé (since) ? Ça t'aidera à choisir le bon mot :

I have waited for three hours

I have waited since 9 AM

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Actions en Cours)

💡

Pense 'Connexion au Présent'

N'oublie jamais : le Present Perfect relie le passé à MAINTENANT. Si c'est complètement terminé et que tu connais le moment exact, utilise le Simple Past. Ça t'aidera à éviter les erreurs de chronologie :

I saw her yesterday.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Perfect avec expressions de temps (for, since, yet)

💡

Repère les Mots de Temps

Fais attention aux mots clés comme 'today' (aujourd'hui), 'this morning' (ce matin), 'this week' (cette semaine), 'this month' (ce mois), 'this year' (cette année), 'so far' (jusqu'à présent), et 'yet' (pas encore). Si tu utilises ces mots et que la période n'est pas terminée, tu es probablement dans le territoire du Present Perfect. "I haven't seen her this morning."

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Présent Perfect: Choses non terminées (Aujourd'hui, Cette semaine)

💡

Cherche les indicateurs de temps

Des mots comme 'yet', 'already', 'ever', 'never', 'so far', 'this week/month/year' sont souvent des indices. Ils montrent une période non terminée ou une expérience liée à 'maintenant'. "I haven't seen her yet this week."

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Présent Perfect: Jusqu'à présent (à ce jour)

Vocabulaire clé (6)

Duration length of time Since starting point Yet until now So far up to this point State a condition or situation Ongoing continuing

Real-World Preview

coffee

Catching up with a colleague

Review Summary

have/has + V3
have/has + been + V-ing

Erreurs courantes

Use Present Perfect for duration, not Present Continuous.

Wrong: I am living here for 5 years.

Correct: I have lived here for 5 years.

Since is for a point in time, for is for a period.

Wrong: I have known him since a long time.

Correct: I have known him for a long time.

State verbs like 'know' do not take the continuous form.

Wrong: I have been knowing her for years.

Correct: I have known her for years.

Règles dans ce chapitre (7)

Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Actions en Cours)

Avec des actions au Present Perfect, for indique une durée, et since un

point de départ

I have been studying English `for three years` now...

12 exemples

Next Steps

You've mastered a complex grammar area! Keep practicing, and it will become second nature.

Journaling about your current goals

Continue to: Parle comme un local : Maîtrise les "Phrasal Verbs"

Pratique rapide (10)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

She didn't finish her homework yet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She hasn't finished her homework yet.

Le mot 'yet' indique que l'action est attendue ou est en cours jusqu'au présent, nécessitant le Present Perfect ('hasn't finished') au lieu du Simple Past ('didn't finish').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Présent Perfect: Jusqu'à présent (à ce jour)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

She didn't call me back yet today.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She hasn't called me back yet today.

L'expression 'yet today' (pas encore aujourd'hui) implique que la journée n'est pas terminée, donc le Present Perfect ('hasn't called') est requis, et non le passé simple ('didn't call').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Présent Perfect: Choses non terminées (Aujourd'hui, Cette semaine)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

They have been owning that restaurant for over ten years.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They have owned that restaurant for over ten years.

'Own' est un verbe d'état et ne prend généralement pas la forme continue ('-ing'). La forme correcte pour un état de possession continu est 'have owned'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Perfect avec Verbes d'État (J'ai connu, elle a été)

Quelle phrase utilise correctement le Present Perfect pour décrire un changement au fil du temps ?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The price of coffee has increased a lot this month.

'This month' est une période non terminée, et l'augmentation est un changement pertinent pour le présent, donc le Present Perfect ('has increased') est correct. 'Last month' est un temps terminé, nécessitant le Simple Past. 'Increases' est du Présent Simple, pour des actions habituelles.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Présent Parfait : Changements au fil du temps (have/has + V3)

Choisis la forme correcte du verbe pour compléter la phrase.

I ___ (not finish) my report this morning.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: haven't finished

Puisque 'this morning' (ce matin) est toujours en cours, nous utilisons le Present Perfect. 'Haven't finished' indique que l'action n'est pas encore terminée dans la période actuelle.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Présent Perfect: Choses non terminées (Aujourd'hui, Cette semaine)

Choisis le mot correct.

I haven't seen my best friend ___ last summer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: since

« Last summer » est un point de départ spécifique, donc nous utilisons « since ».

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Actions en Cours)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur.

Find and fix the mistake:

She works here for ten years.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She has worked here for ten years.

L'action a commencé dans le passé et est toujours en cours, ce qui nécessite le temps Present Perfect (« has worked ») avec « for » pour indiquer la durée.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Perfect: For vs. Since (Actions en Cours)

Choisis la bonne forme pour compléter la phrase.

My sister ___ interested in art since she was a child.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: has been

'Has been' est correct car 'be' est un verbe d'état, et le Present Perfect indique un état qui a commencé dans le passé et continue jusqu'au présent. 'Is being' implique une action temporaire, ce qui ne convient pas ici.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Perfect avec Verbes d'État (J'ai connu, elle a été)

Quelle phrase est correcte ?

Choisis la phrase correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How long have you been living here?

Cette phrase utilise correctement le Present Perfect Continuous pour demander la durée de vie à un endroit. L'auxiliaire 'have' est correctement inversé avec le sujet 'you' pour une question.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Parler d'actions en cours (Present Perfect Continuous)

Quelle phrase utilise correctement le Present Perfect avec une expression de temps ?

Choisis la bonne phrase :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They haven't arrived yet.

'Yet' est correctement utilisé dans une phrase négative au Present Perfect pour indiquer une non-achèvement jusqu'à maintenant. 'Already' est pour les affirmations positives, et 'didn't' est au Simple Past, ce qui ne correspond pas à 'yet'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Perfect avec expressions de temps (for, since, yet)

Score: /10

Questions fréquentes (6)

« For » t'indique la *durée* pendant laquelle quelque chose se passe (par exemple, for three hours). « Since » t'indique le *point de départ* dans le temps où quelque chose a commencé (par exemple, since 9 AM).

Tu l'utilises quand une action ou un état a commencé dans le passé et continue jusqu'au moment présent, ou a un résultat toujours pertinent maintenant. C'est pour les choses qui sont still ongoing.

Ces mots t'aident à préciser *combien de temps* une action a duré ('for', 'since') ou si elle *s'est produite jusqu'à maintenant* ('yet'). Ils donnent un contexte temporel crucial pour les actions qui relient le passé au présent. Par exemple,

I have waited for two hours

ou "I haven't seen her since last week."

'For' indique une *durée* (une période de temps), comme for two hours. 'Since' indique un *point de départ* dans le passé, comme since yesterday ou since 2020.

Il s'agit de connecter des actions ou des états passés au présent, spécifiquement lorsque la période de temps dans laquelle ils se sont produits (comme 'today' ou 'this week') est *toujours en cours*. Pense à 'jusqu'à maintenant' dans un cadre temporel actuel. Tu pourrais dire : "I haven't seen my friend today" (Je n'ai pas vu mon ami aujourd'hui), ce qui signifie que la journée n'est pas encore finie et que tu pourrais encore le voir.

Si le temps spécifié (par exemple, 'this morning') est toujours en train de se dérouler au moment où tu parles, il est inachevé. Si ce temps est passé (par exemple, il est l'après-midi et tu parles de 'this morning'), il est terminé. Cette distinction t'aide à choisir entre le Present Perfect et le passé simple. Par exemple, si c'est midi et que tu dis