PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE vs PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Present Perfect Simple
When this form is used with “for” or “since”, it
expresses a situation that began in the past and
continues to the present. This tense can be
used both with state or action verbs.
I have worked here for 5 years. (Present Perfect
Continuous is also possible.)
I have been here since 7 o’clock. (state verb -
Present Perfect Continuous is NOT possible.)
I have liked cowboy movies ever since I was a
child. (state verb - Present Perfect Continuous is
NOT possible.)
This tense focuses on HOW MANY, HOW
MUCH, and HOW MANY TIMES.
I have answered the first 15 questions of the
survey.
She has spent 3000 dollars to redecorate her
living room.
Tom has been to New York four times in the last
12 months.
She has eaten a lot of ice-cream.
This tense expresses the idea that something
happened before now, at an unspecified time
in the past. The exact time it happened is not
important.
They have moved into a new apartment.
I have already talked to Jenny about the exam.
Present Perfect Continuous
When this form is used with “for” or “since”, it
expresses a situation that began in the past and
continues to the present. This tense CANNOT
be used with state verbs.
I have been working here for 5 years. (Present
Perfect Simple is also possible.)
She has been living with her sisters for the last
three years. (Present Perfect Simple is also
possible.)
Jack has been watching TV all morning. (Present
Perfect Simple is also possible.)
This tense focuses on HOW LONG. It cannot be
used to give information on how many/how
much/how many times.
We have been waiting for you for two hours.
The kids have been swimming since ten o’clock.
I have been looking for a new flat for the last
three weeks, but I have not been able to find
one yet.
When this tense is used without any specific
mention of time, it expresses a general activity
in progress recently or lately.
I have been thinking about changing my major.
My back hurts, so I have been sleeping on the
floor lately.
Exercise 1. Fill in the blanks using the present perfect continuous or the present perfect simple. Use
the present perfect continuous when possible.

1. I ____________ (paint) my old bike red, and now it looks like new.
2. I ____________ (read) this book, and I ____________ (learn) a lot about cars.
3. A: Where's David? B: He ____________ (just/go) to the bank. He'll be back soon.
4. A: Is Alvin sleeping? B: Yes, he ____________ (sleep) since 9 o'clock last night.
5. I ____________ (read) "A Tale of Two Cities". I ____________ (read) only 20 pages so far.
6. A: Dorothy is watering the flowers again.
B: Again? She ____________ (water) them twice this week.
7. I'm planning to buy a new car. I ____________ (look) for one for two weeks now. So far, I
____________ (look) at six cars, but I haven't liked any of them.
8. He ____________ (drive) all day. He ____________ (drive) 250 miles.
9. I ____________ (paint) the gate. Doesn't it look good?
10. She ____________ (live) in this country for many years, but she can't speak our language.
11. I'm sorry I'm late. How long ____________ (you/wait)?
12. I ____________ (already/learn) a lot.

Exercise 2. Complete the letter below using the present perfect or present perfect continuous.

Dear Billy,
I'm sorry I 1__________ (not/be) in touch lately, but I 2__________ (study) hard for my exams. Anyway,
I've got some great news! I 3__________ (sign up) for cooking lessons! They 4__________ (not/start) yet,
but they'll start in a week's time. My friend Mae 5__________ (take) the same class for a few weeks now,
and she says that it's lots of fun. She's very excited as she 6__________ (learn) how to make delicious
meals. 7__________ (you/ever/think) about doing something like this? I 8__________ (never/bake)
anything in my life, but I think it'll be interesting and creative. I'll tell you my impressions after the first
lesson! Well, that's all for now. Let me know what you 9__________ (do) with yourself lately.
Talk to you soon,
Jane

Exercise 3. Rewrite the following sentences using the words given in parentheses.

1. This is the most boring film I’ve ever seen. (never)

I ______________________________________________________________ such a boring film.
2. I started cooking dinner an hour ago. (been)
I _____________________________________________________ an hour.
3. He is still repairing the dishwasher. (hasn’t)
He _________________________________________ repairing the dishwasher yet.
4. It has been four days since I spoke to Jane. (haven’t)
_________________________________________________ to Jane for four days.
5. They went to China in 2012 and again in 2015.
They have been ______________________________________ so far.
6. When did you move to London? (since)
How long has it been _________________________________?
7. It has been two years since I went on holiday.
I ____________________________ on holiday for two years.