Present Perfect Simple & Continuous

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE FORMS. REGULAR VERBS

Affirmative (Positive) Negative

Long form Short form Long form Short form

I have worked I’ve worked I have not worked I haven’t worked

you have worked you've worked you have not worked you haven’t worked
he has worked he's worked he has not worked he hasn’t worked
she has worked she's worked she has not worked she hasn’t worked
it has worked it's worked it has not worked it hasn’t worked
we have worked we've worked we have not worked we haven’t worked
they have worked they've worked they have not worked they haven’t worked

Question

Have I worked?
Have you worked?
Has he worked?
Has she worked?
Has it worked?
Have we worked?
Have they worked?
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE FORMS. IRREGULAR VERBS

Affirmative (Positive) Negative

Long form Short form Long form Short form

I have eaten I’ve eaten I have not eaten I haven’t eaten

you have eaten you've eaten you have not eaten you haven’t eaten
he has eaten he's eaten he has not eaten he hasn’t eaten
she has eaten she's eaten she has not eaten she hasn’t eaten
it has eaten it's eaten it has not eaten it hasn’t eaten
we have eaten we've eaten we have not eaten we haven’t eaten
they have eaten they've eaten they have not eaten they haven’t eaten

Question

Have I eaten?
Have you eaten?
Has he eaten?
Has she eaten?
Has it eaten?
Have we eaten?
Have they eaten?

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE USES

For uncompleted actions that started in the I’ve read many books in my life.
past and continue to the present I’ve studied French. (and remember it)

Actions which took place in the recent past, I’ve spilt the milk. (it is still on the floor)
whose results are still present I’ve just had lunch. (I’m full)

For an action which took place in the past, I have just washed the floor. (so it’s still wet)
but still relates to the present. Hasn’t the train gone already? (that is
 time markers: just, yet, already, surprising)
never, ever, still I have never lived in Paris. (experience)

With “since” and “for” We’ve been friends since 2012.

My brother has played tennis for 10 years.
In type 2 conditional sentences If I won a million dollars, I would travel
around the world.

After 'wish' I wish I had a car so that I could drive to work.

Grammar Practice. Present Perfect Simple

Exercise 1.
You are writing a letter to a friend. In the letter you give news about yourself and other
people. Use the words to make sentences. Use the Present Perfect Simple.

Dear Chris,
Lots of things have happened since I last wrote to you.
1. I/ buy/ a new car.
2. my father/ start/ a new job.
3. my mother/ be/ on a cruise.
4. I/ give up/ smoking.
5. I/do/ a lot of reading.
6. Charles and Sarah/ go/ to Brazil.
7. Suzanne/ have/ a baby.
8. James/get married.

Exercise 2.
Complete the sentences. Use already + Present Perfect Simple

E.g. “What time is Paul arriving?”

“ He’s already arrived.”

1. “Do Sue and Bill want to watch the film?”

“No, they………………..”
2. “Don’t forget to phone Tom.”
“I………………………..”
3. “When is Martin going away?”
“He……………………….”
4. “Do you want to read the newspaper?”
“I…………………………”
5. “When does Linda start her new job?”
“She ……………………..”
6. “Shall we eat something?”
“No, I…………………….”
7. “Let’s go see that play”
“We …………………….”
 8. Do your homework.
“I …………………….”

Exercise 3.
You are asking Helen questions beginning Have you ever……? Write the questions.

E.g. (London?) ……………….. No, never.

Have you ever been to London?

1. (play/ golf?) ………………..Yes, many times.

2. (Australia?).. Have……………… No, never.
3. (lose /your passport?) ……………….. Yes, once
4. (fly/ in a helicopter?)…………………….. No, never.
5. (eat/ Chinese food?)………………….. Yes, a few times.
6. (New York?)…………………………. Yes, twice.
7. (drive/ a bus?)………………….. No, never.
8. (break/ your leg?)………………………. Yes, once.

Exercise 4.
Now write sentences about Helen.

E.g. (London) ……..

Helen has never been to London.

1. (play/ golf) …………………

2. (Australia). ………………
3. (lose /her passport) ………………..
4. (fly/ in a helicopter)……………………..
5. (eat/ Chinese food)…………………..
6. (New York)…………………………..
7. (drive/ a bus)…………………..
8. (break/ her leg)……………………….

Exercise 5.
Complete the sentences. Use the Present Perfect Simple or the Present Perfect Continuous.

E.g. Jill is in hospital. She…has been… in hospital since Monday.

1. I know Sarah. I ……her for a long time.

2. Linda and Frank are married. They…………… married since 1989.
3. Brian is ill. He………………. ill for the last few days.
4. We live in Scott Road. We………… there for ten years.
5. Catherine works in a bank. She……………. in a bank for ten years.
 6. Alan has a headache. He …………….. a headache since he got up this morning.
7. I’m learning English. I…………. English for six months.
8. John is still waiting for Jill to get ready for dinner. He …………. for over an hour.
9. She is visiting her friends in Prague again. She …………. them many times.
10. I am reading Great Expectations again. I …………. it three times.

Exercise 6.
Read the situations and write sentences with just, already, or yet.

E.g. After lunch you go to see a friend at her house. She says “Would you like something to
eat?”
You say: “No, thank you. ..I’ve just had lunch….” (have lunch)

1. Joe goes out. Five minutes later, the phone rings and the caller says ”Can I speak to Joe?”
You say: “I’m afraid ………………………. “ (go out)
2. You are eating in a restaurant. The waiter thinks you have finished and starts to take your
plate away. You say : “Wait a minute!………………” (not/ finish)
3. You are going to a restaurant this evening. You phone to reserve a table. Later your
friend says “Shall I phone to reserve a table”? You say: “No……………..it.” (do)
4. You know that a friend of yours is looking for a job. Perhaps she has been successful.
Ask her. You say: “…………….?” (find)
5. Ann went to the bank, but a few minutes ago she returned. Somebody asks “Is Ann still at
the bank?” You say: “No, …………..” (come back)

Exercise 7.
Write negative sentences using today/ this year/ this term, etc.

E.g. I saw Tom yesterday but ... I haven’t seen him today.

1. I read a newspaper yesterday but I………………………….

2. Last year the company made a profit but ………………..
3. Tracy worked hard at school last term but…………………...
4. It snowed a lot last winter but ………………………….
5. Our football team won a lot of games last season but we…………….
6. Jim was on holiday last year but …………………...
7. I did the shopping last week but …………………...
8. She had something to eat yesterday morning but …………………...

Exercise 8.
You are asking somebody questions about things he or she has done. Make questions for
the words in brackets.

E.g. (ever/ ride/ horse) ……….

Have you ever ridden a horse?
1. (ever/ be/ California)……………. ?
2. (ever/ run/ marathon)………………. ?
3. (ever/ speak/ famous person)…………………?
4. (always/ live/ in this town )…………………………..?
5. (most beautiful place/ ever/ visit) ………………..?
6. (most interesting book/ ever/ read) ………………..?
7. (the first concert/ ever/ attend) ……………….. ?
8. (the best meal/ ever/ have) ……………….. ?
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS FORMS.
Affirmative (Positive) Negative

Long form Long form

I have been working I have not been working
you have been working you have not been working
he has been working he has not been working
she has been working she has not been working
it has been working it has not been working
we have been working we have not been working
they have been working they have not been working
Short form Short form
I’ve been working I haven’t been working
you’ve been working
you haven’t been working
he’s been working
he hasn’t been working
she’s been working
she hasn’t been working
it’s been working
it hasn’t been working
we’ve been working
we haven’t been working
they’ve been working
they haven’t been working

Question
Have I been working?
Have you been working?
Has he been working?
Has she been working?
Has it been working?
Have we been working?
Have they been working?
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS USES

As an explanation for the present situation I won’t shake hands, I’ve been baking. (my
caused by the recent and ongoing nature of the hands are covered in flour);
activity, which may or may not be completed I have been repairing the car all morning.
(I’m exhausted)

To account for a period of time now finishing - I didn’t iron your shirt, I’ve been cooking all
indicates that the action filled the time morning. (excuse for failure)

To draw attention to the repeated or continuous I have been learning French for 10 years.
nature of an action or habit resulting in present I have been living here since1970
expertise or knowledge

For new, temporary habits, which have become He has been seeing a lot of her lately.
constant or continuous

With verbs of wishing and hoping, as a polite I have been looking forward to meeting you.
device, suggesting that the wish or thought
was constantly in the speaker’s mind

Grammar Practice. Present Perfect Continuous

Exercise 1.
Write a sentence with the present perfect continuous + for to describe each situation. Use
these verbs: camp, play, read, swim, talk, travel, work.

E.g. The video began two hours ago, and it hasn’t finished yet.
It’s been playing for two hours.

1. I moved to this city ten years ago. I am still living here.

…………………………..
2. James went into the water ten minutes ago. He doesn’t want to come out
yet.
…………………………..
3. Alice rang Peter half an hour ago, and they’re still on the phone.
…………………………..
4. Robert picked up a book an hour ago. He hasn’t put it down yet.
…………………………..
5. Ed and Jennifer started their journey around the world three months ago.
They’ve gone about halfway now.
…………………………………….
6. Sue got to the office early this morning. Ten hours later she’s still there.
…………………………..
7. The Dobsons left on holiday four weeks ago and they’re not back yet. They took their tent.
 …………………………..
8. She started giving a speech ten minute ago. She hasn’t finished yet.
…………………………..
9. The rain started two hours ago. It’s still raining now.
…………………………..
10. We started waiting for the bus 20 minutes ago. We’re still waiting now.
…………………………..
11. Ann began looking for a job six months ago. She’s still looking now.
…………………………..
12. Years ago you started writing to a pen friend. You still write to each other regularly now.
…………………………..

Exercise 2.
Add a sentence with the short form of the present perfect continuous. Use the words in
brackets.

E.g. Mr Davis has a backache. (dig / the garden)…..

He’s been digging in the garden.

1. Mary’s eyes are red. (cry) ………………….

2. Joe has no money left. (shop)………………….
3. The girls are tired. (work hard )……………………
4. The boys have got a suntan. (sunbathe)
5. Emma’s shoes are dirty. (walk/ in the field)…………..
6. Jane and Neil look annoyed. (argue)…………….
7. The ground is wet. (rain)…………………
8. Tim has some washing up to do (bake/ cakes)………….

Grammar Practice. Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous

Exercise 1.
Read the situations and write two sentences using the words in brackets.

E.g. Tom started reading a book two hours ago. He is still reading it and now he is on page 53.
(read/ for two hours) …..He has been reading for two hours….
(read/ 53 pages so far) …..He has read 53 pages….

1. Linda is from Australia. She is travelling round Europe at the moment. She began her tour
three months ago.
(travel/ for three months) …………….
(visit/ six countries so far)……………….
2. Jimmy is a tennis player. He began playing tennis when he was ten years old. This year he is
national champion again – for the fourth time.
(win/ the national championship four times) …………….
 (play/ tennis since he was ten) …………….
3. When they left college, Mary and Sue started making films together. They still make films.
(make/ ten films since they left college). …………….
(make/ films since they left college) …………….
4. My children love playing video games. They started playing video games when they were
five. They still play video games.
(play/ video games since they were five) …………….
(play/ hundreds of video games so far) …………….
5. I am an athlete. I am currently training for the marathon. I began training for the marathon a
year ago.
(train/ for a year) …………….
(train/ for five marathons so far) …………….

Exercise 2.
Put the verb into the more suitable form, Present Perfect Simple (I have done) or
Continuous (I have been doing).

E.g. Where have you been? ………………..(you/ play) tennis?

Have you been playing tennis?

1. Look!. Somebody…………………{break) that window.

2. You look tired. …………………(you/ work ) hard ?
3. ”………………..(you/ ever/ work) in a factory?” “ No, never “
4. “ Jane is away on holiday.” “ Oh, is she ? Where …………… (she go) ?
5. My brother is an actor. He……………..(appear) in several films.
6. “Sorry I’m late.” ”That’s all right. I………………….( not/ wait) long”.
7. “Is it still raining?” “ No, it ……………….(stop)”
8. I……….(lose) my address book. …………..(you/ see) it anywhere?
9. I………………….(read) the book you lent me but I ………………(not/ finish) it yet.
10. I …………..(read) the book you lent me , so you can have it back now.

Exercise 3.
For each situation, ask a question using the words in brackets.

E.g. You have a friend who is learning Arabic. You ask: (how long/ learn/ Arabic?).
How long have you been learning Arabic?

1. You have just arrived to meet a friend. She is waiting for you. You ask: (How long/ wait?)
2. You see somebody fishing by the river. You ask: (how many fish/ catch?)
3. Some friends of yours are having a party next week. You ask: (How many people/ invite?)
4. A friend of yours is a teacher. You ask: (How long/ teach?)
5. You meet somebody who is a writer. You ask: (How many books/ write?), (how long/ write
books?)
6. A friend of yours is saving money to go on holiday. You ask: (How long/ save?)
7. You come home from work. You talk to the children about their day. You ask: (What/ do?)
8. Your son is parking your car on the driveway. You notice a dent in the car fender. You ask:
(What/ do?)

Exercise 4.
Use the verbs given to complete the sentences. Put the verbs in the Present Perfect Simple
or Continuous.

E.g. What’s that dent in the side of the car? Have you had an accident?

1. John’s terribly upset. …….. (he/ break off) his engagement to Megan.
2. Apparently …….. (she/ see) someone else while …….. (he/ be) in Africa.
3. Can you translate this note from Stockholm? I understood Swedish when I was a child, but
…… (I/ forget) it all.
4. I’m sorry, John’s not here. ……..(he/ go) the dentist…………(he/ have) trouble with a tooth.
5. This cassette recorder is broken. ………(you/ play about) with it?
6. Your Italian is very good (you/ study) it long?
7. Do you mind if I clear the table? …………(you/ have) enough to it ?
8. I’m not surprised………….(he/ fail) that exam.

Exercise 5.
Which is right?

E.g. Mark is/ has been in Canada since April.

1. Jane is a good friend of mine. I know/ have known her very well.
2. Jane is a good friend of mine. I know/ have known her for a long time.
3. Sorry, I’m late. How long are you/ have you been waiting?
4. Martin works/ has worked in a hotel now. He likes his job very much.
5. Tom is/ has been in Spain at the moment.
6. Tom is/ has been there for the last three days.
7. Have you written / been writing that essay yet?
8. I’m tired because I have written / been writing an essay.

Grammar Practice. Present Perfect and Past Simple

Exercise 1.
Rewrite each of the following sentences without changing the meaning, beginning in the
way shown. Use the Present Perfect or the Past Simple.

E.g. We haven’t been to a concert for over a year.

The last time ...we went to a concert was over a year ago.

1. Your birthday party was the last time I really enjoyed myself.
 I………………………………………………………………….
2. It’s nearly twenty years since my father saw his brother.
My father………………………………………………….
3. James went to Scotland last Friday and is still there.
James has……………………………………………….
4. When did you last ride a bike?
How long ………………………………….?
5. The last time I went swimming was when we were in Spain.
I haven’t ……………………………………………………….
6. You haven’t tidied this room for weeks.
It has……………………………………………………..
7. I have never seen such a beautiful landscape.
It is ……………………………………………………..
8. He hasn’t studied mathematics for ages.
It has ……………………………………………………..

Exercise 2
Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are
wrong.

E.g. Do you know about Sue? She’s given up her job. RIGHT
The Chinese have invented printing.WRONG: The Chinese invented……

1. How many plays has Shakespeare written?

2. Have you read any of Shakespeare’s plays?
3. Aristotle has been a Greek philosopher.
4. Ow! I’ve cut my finger. It’s bleeding.
5. My grandparents have got married in London.
6. Where have you been born?
7. Mary isn’t at home. She’s gone shopping.
8. Albert Einstein has been the scientist who has developed the theory of relativity.
9. Has you sister come over last Friday?
10. He never saw such a good movie before.

Exercise 3.
Fill in the sentences with suitable verbs. Use the Present Perfect Simple or the Past Simple,
affirmative or negative.

1. Charlie ………… football yesterday.

2. They ………… the car. It looks new again.
3. Last year we ………… to France.
4. I ………… my friend two days ago.
5. We ………… a foreign country so far.
6. She ………… a new car in 2011.
7. The boy ………… their lunch yet.
8. The police ………… the burglars today.
9. I …………my homework an hour ago.
10. There …………an accident here, so we have to go back.
11. I …………you a letter a week ago but you ………….
12. First he ………… to the announcement, then he ………… the TV.