Present perfect simple Single action : I've cut my finger! Completed action : I've read this book (and finished it). Present perfect continuous Ongoing action : Someone has been cutting pictures out of this book. I've been reading this book. I'm already at page 307. We use the present perfect tense to talk about things where there is a connection between the past and the present. We use the present perfect continuous when the focus is on an activity that is unfinished.