Choose the Tense 🧠
My sister ___ to school by bus every day.
A) is going
B) goes
C) has gone
D) has been going
✅ B — goes
I usually ___ (have) breakfast at 7:30.
✅ have
❌ She go to the gym every Monday.
✅ She goes to the gym every Monday.
What's the difference?
I read every night.
I'm reading tonight.
✅ First = habitual action.
✅ Second = temporary/current arrangement or activity.
Someone asks:
“What do you normally do after school?”
Which tense do you need?
✅ Present Simple
Be quiet! The students ___ an exam.
A) take
B) have taken
C) are taking
D) have been taking
✅ C — are taking
Look! It ___ (snow).
✅ is snowing
❌ Look! The baby cries.
✅ Look! The baby is crying.
What's the difference?
I've read the book.
I've been reading the book.
✅ I've read the book → completed; I have finished it.
✅ I've been reading the book → emphasizes the activity/process; it doesn't necessarily mean I've finished it.
Your friend calls you while you're having dinner.
“What are you doing?”
Answer:
I'm having dinner.
✅ Present Continuous.
I ___ this film three times, but I still don't understand the ending.
A) watch
B) am watching
C) have watched
D) have been watching
✅ C — have watched
We ___ (not see) Tom today.
✅ haven't seen
❌ I am knowing him since 2020.
✅ I have known him since 2020.
💡 Know is normally a stative verb, so we don't normally use it in the continuous.
What's the difference?
She's lived in London for five years.
She's been living in London for five years.
Both can be correct.
The second emphasizes the ongoing activity/situation more strongly.
Someone asks:
“Have you ever been to London?”
What are they asking about?
A) Your current activity
B) Your routine
C) Your experience up to now
D) Your plans for next year
✅ C
She ___ for two hours, so she needs a break.
A) studies
B) is studying
C) has studied
D) has been studying
✅ D — has been studying
How long ___ you ___ (learn) English?
✅ have / been learning
💡 Have you learned English? can also be grammatical, but the continuous emphasizes the activity/duration.
❌ I've been finishing my homework.
✅ I've finished my homework.
💡 Finish describes a completed action, so the result is important.
Why are these different?
I've painted the kitchen.
vs.
I've been painting the kitchen.
✅ First → focuses on the completed result.
✅ Second → focuses on the activity/process and doesn't necessarily mean it's finished.
Your friend says:
“Why are your hands dirty?”
You answer:
I've ___ the car.
Which sounds more natural?
A) washed
B) been washing
👉 Both can work, depending on what you want to emphasize:
I've washed the car → completed result.
I've been washing the car → activity/process; the dirty hands are evidence.
I've lived here for ten years.
Which tense is used and what does it tell us?
A) Present Simple → routine
B) Present Continuous → temporary situation
C) Present Perfect → situation that started in the past and continues now
D) Present Perfect Continuous → action happening at this exact moment
✅ C
This is the third time I ___ (watch) this film.
✅ have watched
Why can't we use am watching?
❌ I've been living here since five years.
✅ I've been living here for five years.
💡 for + period of time
💡 since + starting point
Explain the difference:
A: Why are you tired?
B: I've run five kilometres.
vs.
B: I've been running.
Both are possible.
The first focuses more on the completed achievement/result.
The second focuses on the recent activity, possibly explaining the evidence/result now.
Complete the conversation:
A: You look exhausted! What ___ you ___?
B: I ___ for my exams all afternoon.
A: How many hours ___ you ___?
B: About six!
Possible answers:
What have you been doing?
I've been studying for my exams all afternoon.
How many hours have you been studying?