A: Why is the bill cheaper than before?
B: Because we've been using less electricity.
Present Perfect Simple or Continuous?
Review
In Grammar 8-1, we studied that the Present Perfect Simple is often used to describe finished past actions that relate to the present:
The light has turned green. You can go!
The room has been painted blue. It looks much better now.
It's much quieter in here now that I've closed the window.
In this usage, English speakers are focusing on the present result of the completed action:
- The light has turned green. You can go!
- Present result = The light is green now. You can go.
- The room has been painted blue. It looks much better now.
- Present result = Now, the room is blue.
- It's much quieter in here now that I've closed the window.
- Present result = The window isn't open anymore.
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