Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

Do you know the difference between We've painted the room and
We've been painting the room?
Look at these examples to see how the present perfect simple and continuous are used.
We've painted the bathroom.

She's been training for a half-marathon.
I've had three coffees already today!
They've been waiting for hours.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
We use both the present perfect simple (have or has + past participle) and the present
perfect continuous (have or has + been + -ing form) to talk about past actions or
states which are still connected to the present.
Focusing on result or activity
The present perfect simple usually focuses on the result of the activity in some way,
and the present perfect continuous usually focuses on the activity itself in some way.
Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous
Focuses on the result Focuses on the activity
You've cleaned the bathroom! It looks lovely! I've been gardening. It's so nice out there.
Says 'how many' Says 'how long'
She's read ten books this summer. She's been reading that book all day.
Describes a completed action Describes an activity which may continue
I've written you an email. I've been writing emails.
When we can see evidence of recent activity
The grass looks wet. Has it been raining?

I know, I'm really red. I've been running!
Ongoing states and actions
We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect simple to talk about

ongoing states.
How long have you known each other?
We've known each other since we were at school.
We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect continuous to talk about

ongoing single or repeated actions.
How long have they been playing tennis?

They've been playing tennis for an hour.
They've been playing tennis every Sunday for years.
Sometimes the present perfect continuous can emphasise that a situation is temporary.
I usually go to the gym on the High Street, but it's closed for repairs at the moment so
I've been going to the one in the shopping centre.
Present Perfect – Exercise 01

Change the verb into the correct form:
1. I (read) your book several times.
2. She (wear) that skirt many times.
3. My family (visit) Brazil a few times.
4. I (eat) already.
5. Marta (finish) her homework.
6. You (break) the glass again.
7. They (pay) for everything.
8. It (never snow) like that.
9. I (meet) Anna once.

10. We (see) him before.
11. You (buy) 4 cars so far.
12. There (be) problems.
13. I (have) a snake.
14. Maria (raise) a monkey.
15. The kids (grow) so much
2- Change the verb into the correct form:
1. They (prepare) a beautiful dinner for us.
2. We (eat) too much.
3. Sarah (drink) all the juice.
4. Peter (waste) all his money on drinks.
5. I (be) in England for over 15 years.
6. You (make) too much noise this time.
7. The kids (clean) the house.
8. The test (start).
9. I (bake) a carrot cake.

10. Morgan (lose) her wallet.
11. We (talk) once.
12. It (rain) twice this week.
13. Julie (never be) so quite.
14. I (just take) a shower.
15. We (publish) three books up to now.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Forming Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Subject + have / has + been + verb(ing)...

Affirmative Form
I have been waiting for the train.
Subject + haven't / hasn't + been + verb(ing)...
Negative Form
I haven't been waiting for the train.
Have / has + subject + been + verb(ing)...?
Question Form
Has she been watching TV?
Haven't / hasn't + subject + been + verb(ing)...
Negative Question
Haven't they been looking for Victoria?
More Examples
a. The poor man has been waiting at the corner for an hour.
b. I have been practicing the piano for twenty minutes.
c. How long have you been learning English?
c. How long have you been living in this city?
e. The students have been waiting for the results.
f. Henry has been watching TV since seven o'clock.
Quick Exercise
Complete the following sentences using the present perfect continuous tense
form of the verbs in brackets.
has been teaching

1. Mrs. Rose (teach) English for ten years.
2. Her grandma (talk) for three hours.
3. A little boy (stand) at the door since noon.
4. I want to help Kelly. She (not work) for months.
5. A strange man (follow) us for hours.
6. The baby (cry) for fifteen minutes.
7. How long (Dan drive)?
8. (you watch) me?

Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

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Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

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Do you know the difference between We've painted the room and

We've been painting the room?

We've painted the bathroom.

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Read the explanation to learn more.

Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous

Focuses on the result Focuses on the activity

Says 'how many' Says 'how long'

Describes a completed action Describes an activity which may continue

I've written you an email. I've been writing emails.

When we can see evidence of recent activity

The grass looks wet. Has it been raining?

Ongoing states and actions

We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect simple to talk about

We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect continuous to talk about

How long have they been playing tennis?

Present Perfect – Exercise 01

1. I (read) your book several times.

2. She (wear) that skirt many times.

3. My family (visit) Brazil a few times.

5. Marta (finish) her homework.

6. You (break) the glass again.

7. They (pay) for everything.

8. It (never snow) like that.

9. I (meet) Anna once.

11. You (buy) 4 cars so far.

12. There (be) problems.

13. I (have) a snake.

14. Maria (raise) a monkey.

15. The kids (grow) so much

2- Change the verb into the correct form:

1. They (prepare) a beautiful dinner for us.

2. We (eat) too much.

3. Sarah (drink) all the juice.

4. Peter (waste) all his money on drinks.

5. I (be) in England for over 15 years.

6. You (make) too much noise this time.

7. The kids (clean) the house.

8. The test (start).

9. I (bake) a carrot cake.

11. We (talk) once.

12. It (rain) twice this week.

13. Julie (never be) so quite.

14. I (just take) a shower.

15. We (publish) three books up to now.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Forming Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Subject + have / has + been + verb(ing)...

has been teaching

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