Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in

English Forums

Use our English forums to learn English. The message boards are great for English questions and English answers. The more you contribute, the more all members can practice English!

:  

Ask Ebaby! Teachers Go Super!

Grammar

britdam007

britdam007

India

I’d like to know if there is really a difference between 1) I have worked here for 5 years and 2) I have been working here for 5 years?



Best regards,


Abhishek

06:12 PM Feb 11 2014 |

Go Super to Ask Ebaby! teachers your questions! Go Super!

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Teacher AmySuper Member!

United States

There is an obvious difference in the tense: present perfect versus present perfect continuous. You have asked about similar examples before. 


While both sentences indicate that (1) the speaker has worked at the company for 5 years and (2) is still working at the company, the second sentence leaves the future more open than the first sentence. Present perfect continuous generally indicates the action continuing indefinitely into the future.


Best,


Amy

01:21 AM Feb 14 2014 |

britdam007

britdam007

India

The Present Perfect Tense links the Past Tense with Present Tense as we speak.


So in the example of Present Perfect Tense the person has worked for 5 years, but in what way it is linked with the present I don’t understand except for the fact he is still in the company? What if he quits job 3 hours from now? So after quitting should we use he worked here for 5 years? So until he quits his job we have to use the Present Perfect Tense? Is that what you are saying? Please correct me if I’m wrong?



Best regards,



Abhishek

07:47 AM Feb 14 2014 |

Teacher AmySuper Member!

United States

We use simple past after something has been completed. Therefore, if this person already quit his job, the sentence would, indeed, read, “He worked here for 5 years.” He doesn’t work there anymore.


You are correct about the link to the present: present perfect tense means something started in the past and is still continuing. As long as the person still works for the company, you can use simple present (“He works for the company”), present perfect (“He has worked for the company for 5 years”), or present perfect continous (“He has been working for the company for 5 years”).


Best,


Amy

06:03 PM Feb 17 2014 |