REMEMBER
Both the Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous are used to express an action that started in
the past and continues up to now. The Present Perfect continuous emphasizes the duration and/or the
continuity of that action
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct word from
the bank box in the Present Perfect or the
Present Perfect Continuous
1) Jane is crying because her balloon
__________________ away.
2) John has an exam tomorrow so he
__________________ since two o’clock
3) Mary __________________ on shoes all morning
but she __________________ (not) any yet
4) Michael __________________ all morning. He
__________________ a lot of fish.
5) Annie __________________ her knee so the
nurse is treating her.
6) Mary is a realtor. She __________________
houses for twelve years.
7) Tom __________________ for a passing car to
give him a ride.
8) Carrie __________________ a massage for the
past hour.
9) The teacher is sending Joe to the headmaster
because he __________________ to class late
again
B. Put the verbs in the dialogues in the Present
Perfect or Present Continuous and match them to
the correct picture
1. a) “___________________ (you/see) my glasses?”
b) Yes, You’re wearing them!
2. a) “What happened to these pillows girls?
b) We ___________________(have) a pillow fight!
3. a) “I _____________________ (wait)for Kim for
half an hour. Do you know where she is?”
b) Yes, She_________________(shop) for gifts
4. a) Children, _____________________ (you/dig) in
the garden all morning? You’re so dirty!
b) No, mum, not digging. We ______________
(pick) flowers.
5. a)“_____________________(Peter/return) the
money you lent him last week?” -
b) “Yes, he has.”
C Re-write the following sentences in the Present Perfect Simple or Continuous tense.
Try to stay as close to the meaning as possible. Use the words in bold.
1) This is the first time I have attended the Opera.
(before) I ____________________________________________________________________
2) We moved here five years ago.
(living We ____________________________________________________________________
3) He met his girlfriend last December.
(since) He _________________________________________________________________
4) The Smiths started to live in Greece five years ago
(for) The Smiths ______________________________________________________________
5) Kate got that dog five years ago.
(have) Kate __________________________________________________________________
6) Mrs Polls started working here ten years ago.
(been) Mrs. Polls _____________________________________________________________
7) They bought this car six years ago.
(have) They ___________________________________________________________________
8) This is the first time Sharon is visiting Rome. I hope se doesn’t stay there
(has) Sharon __________________________________________________________________
D Choose the best answer in each sentence
1) She ----- up her office all day.
a) has tidied b) has been tidying c) has been tidied d) has tidying
2) ----- your homework?
a) You finished b) Have you been finishing c) Have you been finished d) Have you finished
3) He ----- that landscape for a year now. When will he finish it?
a) has painted b) has been painting c) has been painted d) has painting
4) I -----a book for a week now. I think it’s wonderful.
a) have been reading b) have read c) have reading d) have been read
5) Who ----- my chocolate bar. It’s almost completely gone!
a) has been eating b) has eating c) has been eaten d) has eaten
6) ----- ice hockey ?
a) Have you ever played b) Have you ever playing
c) Have you ever been playing d) Have you ever been played
7) I don’t want to go to the cinema again. I ----- that film
a) already did see b) already have seen c) have already seen d) have already seeing
8) Many things -----so far this year.
a) changed b) didn't changed c) has changed d)have changed
9) Helen ____________________ (be) to Africa. She will go on her holiday this year
a) has never gone b) has never been c) has never be d) has never been going
10) Helen ----- professional volleyball for three years now.
a) played b) have played c) has been played d) has been playing
11) I ----- about starting driving lessons for several days now. I think maybe tomorrow I’ll try it out
a) have thought b) have been thought c) have been thinking d) have thinking
12) She ----- in this house for years, even though it’s so old.
a) lived b) have lived c) has lived d) has been living
13) Mary ----- to the supermarket. She’ll be back in ten minutes.
a) has gone b) has been c) has been going d) has going
14) I ------ from work. What a horrible day! Give me a minute and I’ll tell you all about it!
a) have just been returning c) have just been returned
b) have just returned d) have just returning
15) I ----- (complete) this exercise. What should I do now?
a) am just completed c) have just been completed
b) have just completed d) just have complete
16)” ------ his old car yet?” Yes he gave it away last week.
a) Has Joe been selling b) Has Joe been sold c) Has Joe sold d) Has Joe been selling
17) I -----great reviews about this film so I want to see it.
a) has read b) have read c) have reading d) have been read
18) ----- any good films lately?
a) Have you see b) have you seen c) have you been seen d) have you been seeing
19) We ----- English for three years now and we are quite good.
a) have been studied b) have studied c) have studying d) have been studying
20) You ----- this exercise for quite some time but it’s over now.
a) have been doing b) have doing c) have done d) have been done
