Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

Exercise 1

Result or duration
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous)
1. I (play) have been playing football for five years.
2. My team (win / only) ____________________ two matches so far.
3. The others (be / always) ____________________ better.
4. Are we not there yet? We (walk) ____________________ for hours.
5. But we (cover / only) ____________________ an area of five miles so far.
6. I (finish/just) ____________________ my homework.
7. I (work) ____________________ on this essay since two o'clock.
8. Jane (go out) ____________________ with Bob for seven years.
9. Martin (date) ____________________ three girls this week.
10. How long (wait / you) ____________________ for us?
Exercise 2

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. A: (you / play / ever) ____________________ tennis?
2. B: I (play / only) ____________________ tennis once or twice. And you?
3. A: I (learn) ____________________ tennis for two years.
4. B: (you / take) ____________________ part in any competitions yet?
5. A: I (participate) ____________________ in four contests this year.
6. B: (you / win) ____________________ any prizes so far?
7. A: No, I (win / not) __________________ anything yet. I'm not that good yet. (you / enter / ever)
____________________ a contest?
8. B: I (swim) ____________________ for seven years and I (receive / already) ____________________
some trophies.
Certain verbs
Exercise 3 Use the verbs in Present Perfect Continuous. If it is not possible, use the Present Perfect.
1. We (know) ____________________ them for 15 years.
2. They (watch) ____________________ TV for 3 hours.
3. He (have) ____________________ this car for 20 years.
4. We (work) ____________________ for 7 hours without a break.
5. How long (you / learn) ____________________ English?
6. Mr Smith (be) ____________________ in hospital for 5 days.
7. Steven (hear) ____________________ a mouse squeak all night.
8. (you / see) ____________________ Brona?

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

9. She (prepare) ____________________ dinner for two hours.
10. Don't worry, they (touch / not) ____________________ your gameboy.
Completion or duration
Exercise 4 Which form is correct (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous)?
1. We want to tell how we have spent our time:
We have played football.

We have been playing football.

2. The action is completed now:

Charly has sent the letter.

Charly has been sending the letter.

3. I want to tell how I have spent my time:

I have watched TV.

I have been watching TV.

4. I want to emphasise that the door is open now:

Elizabeth has opened the door.

Elizabeth has been opening the door.

5. I want to emphasise that the house is ready now:

My friends have built a house.

My friends have been building a house.

Exercise 5 What is emphasised?

1. I have cooked dinner.

emphasising that dinner is ready now

emphasising how I have spent my time

2. She has been reading a book.

emphasising that she has read the book

emphasising how she has spent her time

completely
3. He has closed all the windows.
emphasising that all windows are closed now

emphasising how he has spent his time

4. I have tidied up my room.

emphasising that the room is tidy now

emphasising how I have spent my time

5. We have been swimming.

emphasising, that we are not swimming anymore

emphasising how we have spent our time

now

Exercise 6

Result or side effect

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. Why are you out of breath? - I (run) ____________________.
2. The toaster is okay again. Dad (repair) ____________________ it.
3. I am so tired, I (work) ____________________ all day.
4. Your shirt is clean now. Maggie (wash) ____________________ it.
5. I'm afraid, I'm getting a cold. I (walk) ____________________ home in the rain.

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

6. Your clothes smell awful! (you / smoke) ____________________?
7. Peggy is ready for her exam now. I (help) ____________________ her preparing for it.
8. It is dark in here because we (close) ____________________ the curtains. We want to watch a film
and that's better in the dark.
9. His voice is gone now because he (shout) ____________________ all morning.
Exercise 7

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. One can see through the windows again. Jane (clean) ____________________ them.
2. You are absolutely sunburned. You (sit) ____________________ in the sun too long.
3. We can watch the film now. Michael (connect) ____________________ the DVD player.
4. The room looks much nicer now. I (hang) ____________________ up some pictures.
5. Freddy is soaken wet. He (wash) ____________________ the dog.
6. I am not hungry. I (eat / already) ____________________ something.
7. Can I go outside? I (do) ____________________ my homework.
8. My eyes are red because I (cut) ____________________ onions.

Exercise 8

Since the last time or since the beginning

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. I (play / not) ____________________ the computer for half an hour, only for about 5 minutes.
2. Bob (drive / not) ____________________ a car for eight years.
3. Carla (go / not) ____________________ on holiday for three years.
4. We (run / not) ____________________ for 40 minutes yet - there are still 10 minutes left.
5. They (smoke / not) ____________________ for 10 days now.
6. I (eat / not) ____________________ anything since two o'clock.
7. Anna (work / not) ____________________ here for five years, but for seven years.
8. I (read / not) ____________________ for a long time - just 10 minutes, not more.
9. You (cycle / not) ____________________ for two hours. It was only about one hour.
10. Catherine (speak / not) ____________________ French for 10 years, so her French isn't very good
now.

Exercise 9 Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. Since I bought my car, I (travel / not) ____________________ by train.
2. He (learn / not) ____________________ English for two years yet, but he speaks it very well.
3. We (party / not) ____________________ for a long time, but there's no food left.

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

4. My sister and her boyfriend (go / not) ____________________ out together for a long time. They only
met three weeks ago.
5. James (tidy / not) ____________________ up his room for a long time. It's a complete mess.
6. We (practise / not) ____________________ for hours - 15 minutes were enough.
7. Louis is absolutely tired as he (sleep / not) ____________________ well for days.
8. Dana (work / not) ____________________ for days because she is ill.
9. I (play / not) ____________________ the piano for ages, so please don't ask me to perform anything.
10. We (hang / not) ____________________ about all day, we have helped grandma in the garden.

Mixed exercises
Exercise 10 Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. A: (you / take) ____________________ the dog for a walk yet?
2. B: I (work) ____________________ all day. I (come / just) ____________________ home from work
and I (have / not) ____________________ the time yet to walk the dog.
3. A: How long (the dog / be) ____________________ home alone?
4. B: For about 6 hours. You (walk / not) ________________ the dog for a long time. Don't you want to
go?
5. A: Well, I (laze / not) ____________________ about all day either, you know. I have a very important
meeting tomorrow and I still (finish / not) ____________________ my presentation.
6. B: Okay, I will go then. Where (you / put) ____________________ collar and leash?
7. A: They are in the kitchen. By the way, (you / eat) ____________________ anything yet? If not, could
you get us something from the supermarket?

Exercise 11

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. A: I (call) ____________________ for you for half an hour. Where (be) ____________________? And
why are your clothes so dirty?
2. B: I (tidy) ____________________ up the shed in the garden.
3. A: (you / find) ____________________ a box with old photos there? I (look) ____________________
for it for ages.
4. B: I (discover / not) ____________________ it yet, but I (work / not) for a long time yet. I (come /
just) ____________________ in to eat something.
5. A: I (cook / not) ____________________ anything yet because I (talk) to our neighbour.

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

Test your knowledge on Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous.

Form Fill in the correct form (pronoun + verb).

Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Continuous

I / speak
he / write
they / do
you / swim
she / live
Use When to use which tense?

1. '5 times' is a signal word for ____________________

2. 'for two hours' is a signal word for ____________________
3. 'since 9 o'clock' is a signal word for ____________________
Positive Sentences

Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. I (practise) ____________________ the piano for 30 minutes.
2. Bob (run) ____________________ 10 km.
3. The children (be) ____________________ on holiday for six days.
4. The dog (bark) ____________________ since midnight.
5. We (miss) ____________________ the bus twice this week.
Negative Sentences

Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. You (eat / not) ____________________ up yet.
2. He (speak / not) ____________________ on the phone for half an hour, just a couple of minutes.
3. They (work / not) ____________________ since 5 o'clock. They just started an hour ago.
4. We (know / not) ____________________ them for a long time.
5. She (hang / not) ____________________ up all the pictures yet.
Questions Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous).

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

How long (wait / she) ____________________ for us?

How many times (tell / I) ____________________ you?
How often (clean / you) ____________________ the windows this year?
How many months (take / you) ____________________ piano lessons?
(stay / you / ever) ____________________ in a castle?

Text
Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive).
1. Tom: Hi Ana. I (try) ______________ to ring you several times today. Where (you / be)
______________?
2. Ana: I (be) ____________________ at home all the time. But I (clean) ____________________ the
house all day, so maybe I didn't hear the phone ring.
3. Tom: (you / clean) ____________________ everything now?
4. Ana: No, not yet. I (tidy / not) ____________________ up the kitchen yet. But why are you here?
5. Tom: Don't you remember? Jane (invited) ____________________ us to her birthday party and we
(buy / not) ____________________ a present for her yet.
6. Ana: Oh, that's right. (you / find out / already) ____________________ what she wants?

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

7. Tom: Well, she (learn) ____________________ Spanish for a year and wants to spend her next holiday
in Mexico. Maybe we could get her a guide book.
8. Ana: That's a good idea. There is a good bookshop in the big shopping centre. I (see)
____________________ some nice books about Mexico there recently.

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

Test your knowledge on Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous.

Form Fill in the correct form (pronoun + verb).

Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Continuous

she listen
they / take
I / look
you / sit
he / lie
Use When to use which tense?

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

If we want to emphasise the duration of an action, we use ____________________

If we want to tell, how often something has happened so far, we use ____________________
If we want to emphasise the result of an action, we use ____________________
If we want to emphasise that an action is completed now, we use ____________________
If we want to emphasise how we have spent our time, we use ____________________

Positive Sentences

Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. Sandy (cook) ____________________ dinner four times this week.
2. We (travel) ____________________ around Scotland for 8 days.
3. Why are your hands so dirty? - I (repair) ____________________ my bike.
4. I (read) ____________________ the book, you can have it back.
5. Paul (believe) ____________________ in God since he was a child.
Negative Sentences

Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect

Continuous).
1. Sorry for being late. I hope you (wait / not) ____________________ long.
2. My grandparents are coming to see us next weekend. They (visit / not) _____________ us for two
years.
3. She (be / not) ____________________ on holiday for 3 years.
4. I don't want you to drive my car. You (drive / not) ____________________ a car for ages.
5. He (watch / not) ____________________ TV all afternoon, he only switched the telly on 10 minutes
ago.
Questions Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous).

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

How much money (Jack / spend) ____________________ in the casino?

How long (she / sit) ____________________ there?
How many short messages (send / you) ____________________ this month?
(you / empty) ____________________ the bin yet?
Lucy, (you / bathe) ____________________ your dolls? The bathroom floor is absolutely wet.

Text
Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous).
1. Daughter: Mum, Jane (phone / just) ________________ to ask if I will go to the cinema with her. May
I?
2. Mother: (you / do) ____________________ your homework yet?
3. Daughter: Well, I (do) _____________ it for about 2 hours now, but I (finish / not) _____________ it
yet.

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

4. Mother: If you (complete / not) ____________________ your homework, you cannot go. School
comes first. Remember, you (promise) ____________________ me to study harder this year.
5. Daughter: But mum, I (work) ____________________ really hard this year and I (improve / already)
____________________ in Maths and Chemistry.
6. Mother: But that's only because I (push / always) ____________________ you to do something.
7. Daughter: But I also need a break some time. Look, I (be / not) ____________________ to the cinema
for two months. May I go? Just this once.
KEY
Exercise 1
2. My team has only won two matches so far.
3. The others have always been better.
4. Are we not there yet? We have been walking for
hours.
5. But we have only covered an area of five miles so
far.
6. I have just finished my homework.
7. I have been working on this essay since two
o'clock.
8. Jane has been going out with Bob for seven years.
9. Martin has dated three girls this week.
10. How long have you been waiting for us?

Exercise 3
1. We have known them for 15 years.
2. They have been watching TV for 3 hours.
3. He has had this car for 20 years.
4. We have been working for 7 hours without a
break.
5. How long have you been learning English?
6. Mr Smith has been in hospital for 5 days.
7. Steven has heard a mouse squeak all night.
8. Have you seen Brona?
9. She has been preparing dinner for two hours.
10. Don't worry, they have not touched your
gameboy.
Exercise 6
1. Why are you out of breath? - I have been running.
2. The toaster is okay again. Dad has repaired it.
3. I am so tired, I have been working all day.
4. Your shirt is clean now. Maggie has washed it.
5. I'm afraid, I'm getting a cold. I have been walking
home in the rain.
6. Your clothes smell awful! Have you been
smoking?

Exercise 2
1. A: Have you ever played tennis?
2. B: I have only played tennis once or twice. And
you?
3. A: I have been learning tennis for two years.
4. B: Have you taken part in any competitions
yet?
5. A: I have participated in four contests this
year.
6. B: Have you won any prizes so far?
7. A: No, I have not won anything yet. I'm not
that good yet. Have you ever entered a
contest?
8. B: I have been swimming for seven years and I
have already received some trophies.
Exercise 4
1. We have been playing football.
2. Charly has sent the letter.
3. I have been watching TV.
4. Elizabeth has opened the door.
5. My friends have built a house.
Exercise 5
1. emphasising that dinner is ready now
2. emphasising how she has spent her time
3. emphasising that all windows are closed now
4. emphasising that the room is tidy now
5. emphasising how we have spent our time
Exercise 7
1. One can see through the windows again. Jane
has cleaned them.
2. You are absolutely sunburned. You have been
sitting in the sun too long.
3. We can watch the film now. Michael has
connected the DVD player.
4. The room looks much nicer now. I have hung
up some pictures.

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

7. Peggy is ready for her exam now. I have helped 5. Freddy is soaked wet. He has been washing the
her preparing for it.
dog.
8. It is dark in here because we have closed the 6. I am not hungry. I have already eaten
curtains. We want to watch a film and that's
something.
better in the dark.
7. Can I go outside? I have done my homework.
9. His voice is gone now because he has been 8. My eyes are red because I have been cutting
shouting all morning.
onions.
Exercise 8
1. I have not been playing the computer for half an hour, only for about 5 minutes.
2. Bob has not driven a car for eight years.
3. Carla has not gone on holiday for three years.
4. We have not been running for 40 minutes yet - there are still 10 minutes left.
5. They have not smoked for 10 days now.
6. I have not eaten anything since two o'clock.
7. Anna has not been working here for five years, but for seven years.
8. I have not been reading for a long time - just 10 minutes, not more.
9. You have not been cycling for two hours. It was only about one hour.
10. Catherine has not spoken French for 10 years, so her French isn't very good now.
Exercise 9
1. Since I bought my car, I have not travelled by train.
2. He has not been learning English for two years yet, but he speaks it very well.
3. We have not been partying for a long time, but there's no food left.
4. My sister and her boyfriend have not been going out together for a long time. They only met three weeks
ago.
5. James has not tidied up his room for a long time. It's a complete mess.
6. We have not been practising for hours - 15 minutes were enough.
7. Louis is absolutely tired as he has not slept well for days.
8. Dana has not worked for days because she is ill.
9. I have not played the piano for ages, so please don't ask me to perform anything.
10. We have not been hanging about all day, we have helped grandma in the garden.
Exercise 10
1. A: Have you taken the dog for a walk yet?
2. B: I have been working all day. I have just come home from work and I have not had the time yet to walk
the dog.
3. A: How long has the dog been home alone?
4. B: For about 6 hours. You have not walked the dog for a long time. Don't you want to go?
5. A: Well, I have not been lazing about all day either, you know. I have a very important meeting tomorrow
and I still have not finished my presentation.
6. B: Okay, I will go then. Where have you put collar and leash?
7. A: They are in the kitchen. By the way, have you eaten anything yet? If not, could you get us something
from the supermarket?
Exercise 11
1. A: I have been calling for you for half an hour. Where have you been? And why are your clothes so dirty?
2. B: I have been tidying up the shed in the garden.
3. A: Have you found a box with old photos there? I have been looking for it for ages.

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

4. B: I have not discovered it yet, but I have not been working for a long time yet. I have just come in to eat
something.
5. A: I have not cooked anything yet because I have been talking to our neighbour.

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

Test1
Form
I have spoken
he has written
they have done
you have swum
she has lived

I have been speaking

he has been writing
they have been doing
you have been swimming
she has been living

Use
1. Present Perfect Simple
2. Present Perfect Continuous
3. Present Perfect Continuous

Positive Sentences
1. I have been practising the piano for 30 minutes.
2. Bob has run 10 km.
3. The children have been on holiday for six days.
4. The dog has been barking since midnight.
5. We have missed the bus twice this week.
Negative Sentences
1. You have not eaten up yet.
2. He has not been speaking on the phone for half an hour, just a couple of minutes.
3. They have not been working since 5 o'clock. They just started an hour ago.
4. We have not known them for a long time.
5. She has not hung up all the pictures yet.
Questions
1. How long has she been waiting for us?
2. How many times have I told you?
3. How often have you cleaned the windows this year?
4. How many months have you been taking piano lessons?
5. Have you ever stayed in a castle?
Text
1. Tom: Hi Ana. I have tried to ring you several times today. Where have you been?
2. Ana: I have been at home all the time. But I have been cleaning the house all day, so maybe I didn't hear
the phone ring.
3. Tom: Have you cleaned everything now?
4. Ana: No, not yet. I have not tidied up the kitchen yet. But why are you here?
5. Tom: Don't you remember? Jane has invited us to her birthday party and we have not bought a present for
her yet.
6. Ana: Oh, that's right. Have you already found out what she wants?
7. Tom: Well, she has been learning Spanish for a year and wants to spend her next holiday in Mexico. Maybe
we could get her a guide book.
8. Ana: That's a good idea. There is a good bookshop in the big shopping centre. I have seen some nice books
about Mexico there recently.

Present Perfect Simple - Present Perfect Continuous

Test2
Form
she has listened
they have taken
I have looked
have sat
he has lied

she has been listening

they have been taking
I have been looking
you have been sitting
he has been lying

Use
Present Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Continuous

Positive Sentences
1. Sandy has cooked dinner four times this week.
2. We have been travelling around Scotland for 8 days.
3. Why are your hands so dirty? - I have been repairing my bike.
4. I have read the book, you can have it back.
5. Paul has believed in God since he was a child.
Negative Sentences
1. Sorry for being late. I hope you have not been waiting long.
2. My grandparents are coming to see us next weekend. They have not visited us for two years.
3. She has not been on holiday for 3 years.
4. I don't want you to drive my car. You have not driven a car for ages.
5. He has not been watching TV all afternoon, he only switched the telly on 10 minutes ago.
Questions
1. How much money has Jack spent in the casino?
2. How long has she been sitting there?
3. How many short messages have you sent this month?
4. Have you emptied the bin yet?
5. Lucy, have you been bathing your dolls? The bathroom floor is absolutely wet.
Text
1. Daughter: Mum, Jane has just phoned to ask if I will go to the cinema with her. May I?
2. Mother: Have you done your homework yet?
3. Daughter: Well, I have been doing it for about 2 hours now, but I have not finished it yet.
4. Mother: If you have not completed your homework, you cannot go. School comes first. Remember, you
have promised me to study harder this year.
5. Daughter: But mum, I have been working really hard this year and I have already improved in Maths and
Chemistry.
6. Mother: But that's only because I have always pushed you to do something.
7. Daughter: But I also need a break some time. Look, I have not been to the cinema for two months. May I
go? Just this once.