Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect or Present perfect continuous

100

You are complaining to a friend on the phone about how long painting your room took. Do you say: I've been painting for four hours now! OR I have painted for four hours now!

I've been painting for four hours now! The focus is on the amount of time spent painting and the action is incomplete.

200

You just discovered an awesome new band, and you want to know how many albums they have created. Do you ask... -How many albums have they made? 0R -How many albums have they been making?

How many albums have they made? The important thing is the number of albums they have finished making in the past, not what they are making right now.

300

You are late to a meeting with a friend. The first thing you ask when you get there is... -How long have...??

How long have you been waiting? The important thing is how long they have been waiting. The focus is on the amount of time, so we use the present perfect continuous

400

Your friends are going to join you for a game of soccer after they finish their homework. Do you ask... Have they...

Have they finished their homework? The important thing is whether or not they have completed the action.

500

You are a great artist, and you want to explain to your parents how many pictures you have drawn in school this year. You say... I have -------------- 17 pictures this year! I have ------------ 3 hours every day!

I have drawn 17 pictures this year! I have been drawing 3 hours every day. In the first sentence, the emphasis is on how many pictures you have completed. In the second sentence, the emphasis is on the amount of time you have spent drawing.

Fill in the blank

100

a: How long ____________ you ___________ a doctor? b: A long time. More than 10 years.

How long have you been a doctor?

200

I ___________ never _______ to Paris, but I'd like to go.

I have never been to Paris, but I'd like to go.

300

He ______________ (speak/ not) on the phone for half an hour, just a couple of minutes.

He hasn't/has not been speaking on the phone for half an hour, just a couple of minutes.

400

We ___________ (wait) for Kyle for an hour, but he hasn't arrived yet?

We have been waiting for Kyle for an hour, but he hasn't arrived yet?

500

He ___________ (win) several swimming competitions. He has ____________ (swim) for seven years.

He has won several swimming competitions. He has been swimming for seven years.

Make a question

100

How many times ____________ I __________ (tell) you to take off your shoes when you come into the house?

How many times have I told you to take off your shoes when you come into the house?

200

_______ she ________(hang) up all the pictures yet?

Has she hung up all the pictures yet?

300

How long __________ you _________ (make) music?

How long have you been making music?

400

How long__________ you ________ (work) for this company?

How long have you been working for this company.

500

______ your roommate _________ (study) a lot lately? _____ you ________ (study) together or separately?

Has your roommate been studying a lot lately? Have you been studying together or separately?

Which is correct

100

A: Did you know Gary plans to change jobs? B: He _______________ that for the past two years, but he never does anything about it. a. has said b. has been saying

b. has been saying The emphasis on the continuing action of saying that he is going to change jobs.

200

I ____________ this book for hours. My eyes are starting to get tired. a. have read b. have been reading

b. have been reading The emphasis is on the amount of time spent on the activity, not whether or not it is completed, so we use the present perfect continuous

300

What have you _________________ (do) on weekends recently? a. done b. been doing

b. been doing The emphasis is on the action taking place, not whether or not it is completed, so we use the present perfect continuous.

400

Now that I _________ (finish) my internship, I think I'll be able to get a job more easily. a. have finished b. have been finishing

a. have finished The important thing is that the action is completed, so we use the present perfect simple.

500

You look tired. Have you _____________ (work) hard today? a. worked b. been working

b. been working The important thing is the activity of working hard. It doesn't matter whether or not the person is done working, so we use present perfect continuous.

Error Correction

100

I have did a good job.

I have done a good job.

200

I have already show my accounting skills.

I have already shown my accounting skills.

300

I have been ran for 3 minutes already.

I have been running for 3 minutes already.

400

I have been working as a engineer in this company since years.

I have been working as a engineer in this company since years.

500

I'm watching television for the last three hours, and now I feel worried about that test tomorrow.

I'm watching television for the last three hours, and now I feel worried about that test tomorrow.