Present Perfect Continuous and Simple Exercises

The following Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect continuous exercises are presented in questions and answers test format. At the explanations tab, you will find present perfect simple and continuous examples and sentences as well as formula, form and structure. And at the worksheet tab, you can download these exercises as pdf worksheet files for free.

Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous

The Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous are both used to talk about actions or situations that started in the past and are connected to the present. But they are used in different ways depending on what we want to focus on.

1. Present Perfect Simple

Form: have/has + past participle

  • I have finished my homework.
  • She has visited London three times.

Use:

  • To talk about completed actions with a result in the present
  • To describe experiences
  • To show how many times something has happened

2. Present Perfect Continuous

Form: have/has + been + verb-ing

  • I have been studying for two hours.
  • They have been working on the project since morning.

Use:

  • To talk about an action that started in the past and is still continuing
  • To focus on the activity and its duration
  • To describe recent actions that have visible results now

3. Compare Present Perfect Simple and Continuous

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous
Focuses on the result Focuses on the action/activity
I’ve read that book. I’ve been reading that book.
Completed actions Ongoing or recently stopped actions
How many / how much How long / duration
He has written 5 emails today. He has been writing emails all morning.

4. Quick Tips

You need to remember the following tips before starting to practice present perfect vs present perfect continuous exercises.

  • Use Present Perfect Simple to show what has been completed.
  • Use Present Perfect Continuous to show how long something has been happening.
  • Some verbs (like know, like, believe) are not used in the continuous form. Use the simple form instead.
  • Time expressions like for, since, just, already, and yet often go with the Present Perfect.
Exercises
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Choose the correct option to complete the Present Perfect Continuous and Simple Exercises below.
1

A: Why are your hands so dirty?B: I ________ the car.

a.
have cleaned
b.
cleaned
c.
have been cleaning
2

He ________ ten emails so far this morning.

a.
wrote
b.
has been writing
c.
has written
3

A: You look exhausted!B: I ________ all day without a break.

a.
have been working
b.
have worked
c.
worked
4

She ________ three books this month.

a.
has been reading
b.
has read
c.
read
5

How long ________ for the doctor?

a.
did you wait
b.
have you waited
c.
have you been waiting
6

He ________ here for five years before he moved to Paris.

a.
has been living
b.
has lived
c.
lived
7

A: Where have you been?B: I ________ for you everywhere!

a.
looked
b.
have looked
c.
have been looking
8

She ________ her keys, so now she can’t enter the house.

a.
lost
b.
has lost
c.
has been losing
9

I ________ this book for weeks, but I still haven't finished it.

a.
read
b.
have read
c.
have been reading
10

Why is your hair wet? ________ in the rain?

a.
Did you walk
b.
Have you been walking
c.
Have you walked
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