I. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
I’ve worked in the garden all day and now I’m tired.
I’ve been working in the garden all day and now I’m tired.
What have you done? You’re all wet.
What have you been doing? You’re all wet.
I’ve finished my homework. Now I’m going to watch TV.
I’ve been finishing my homework. Now I’m going to watch TV.
What have you done with my keys? - I haven’t seen your keys.
What have you been doing with my keys? - I haven’t seen your keys.
She’s worked in the garden all morning and she’s still not finished.
She’s been working in the garden all morning and she’s still not finished.
Why are you sweating? - I’ve cut the grass.
Why are you sweating? - I’ve been cutting the grass.
How many biscuits have you eaten?
How many biscuits have you been eating?
How long have you been knowing her?
How long have you known her?
I’ve had this computer for over 10 years.
I’ve been having this computer for over 10 years.
I’ve had piano lessons for over 10 years and I’m still not very good.
I’ve been having piano lessons for over 10 years and I’m still not very good.
How long has he seen her? - Not long, but they’re getting married next month.
How long has he been seeing her? - Not long, but they’re getting married next month.
I have cooked for the last two hours and now you tell me you’re not hungry!
I have been cooking for the last two hours and now you tell me you’re not hungry!
He’s put on a lot of weight since he came to Germany.
He’s been putting on a lot of weight since he came to Germany.
Why are you crying? - I’ve cut onions.
Why are you crying? - I’ve been cutting onions.
Has the film started yet?
Has the film been starting yet?
They have built the new road around the school for more than a year.
They have been building the new road around the school for more than a year.
Teacher to student: Have you done your homework?
Teacher to student: Have you been doing your homework?
Someone has taken my dictionary!
Someone has been taking my dictionary!
Has John told you about the party next week? - No, I haven’t seen him today.
Has John been telling you about the party next week? - No, I haven’t seen him today.
Has John been telling you about the party next week? - No, I haven’t seen him today.
Has John been telling you about the party next week? - No, we were talking about last
weekend.
II. Choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1. Two races have already taken / been taking place this morning, but it’s rained/ been
raining since 2 pm, so nothing is happening at the moment.
2. I’ve injured / I’ve been injuring my leg, so I haven’t wanted / haven’t been wanting to
compete in the last month or two. It’s really annoying.
3. Although she has known / has been knowing how to play chess since she was a little
girl, she’s only just started / been starting playing seriously.
4. A: How far have you swum / been swimming?
B: Well, I’ve swum / been swimming for 45 minutes, so about 2 kilometers, I think.
5. The coach hasn’t chosen / hasn’t been choosing me for the team yet, but I’ve trained
/ I’ve been training all year!
6. A: How many times has your team won / been winning the cup?
B: None, but they have a chance this year. They have been playing / have played
really well recently.
7. He’s been reading / read books since he was five. He’s been finishing / finished
hundreds.
III. PRESENT PERFECT OR PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
1. Why are your hands dirty? - Oh; I _______________________ (work) in the garden.
2. It’s nine o’clock. Jack _______________________ (teach) for four hours tonight.
3. I _______________________ (work) at this company for a long time.
4. Why are you shaking so? What _______________________ (you/do)?
5. Lucky Susan! She _______________________(visit) so many different countries.
6. _______________________(you/finish) your homework yet?
7. He _______________________(arrive/just) from Tokyo.
8. Nick _______________________ (buy) a new house!
9. It’s a quarter to nine. I _______________________ (wait) for over two hours.
10. _______________________ (drive) a BMW?
11. I’d like to help you, but I _______________________(just/eat) and I need to take a
nap.
12. Frank _______________________ (fail) his driving test 4 times! Recently, he
_______________________ (practice) a lot and he should pass it the next time he
takes it.
13. FBI agents _______________________ (look for) the murderer for two weeks now.
Unfortunately, they _______________________ (be able/find) any suspects.
14. I can’t believe it! It _______________________ (rain) all day!
15. He _______________________ (do) his homework all day, but he _________________
(finish) yet.
16. It smells like fish in here. – Well, that’s no surprise. I ______________________ (cook)
fish stew.
17. George _______________________ (play) golf since 9 o’clock this morning. He
_______________________ (play) 18 holes.
18. Why are you so red? - Well I _______________________ (sunbathe).
19. Do you think anything ________________________ (happen) to Tom? We
________________________ (wait) for him for a long time now.
20. She ________________________ (read) Stephen King's latest novel for the past 4
days. She _______________________ (read) every novel he ____________________
(ever/write).
21. They ________________________ (drive) over 300 miles today.
22. How many times ______________________ (I / tell) you?
23. The kitchen floor is covered with mud! What _________________________ (the
children/do)?
24. Jack ______________________ (already/eat) so he won’t be joining us for lunch.
25. Joe ______________________ (eat) too much recently. He should eat less.
26. Someone ______________________ (eat) all my biscuits. The box is empty.
27. Look! Somebody ______________________ (break) that window!
28. Daughter: Mum, Jane ____________________ (phone / just) to ask if I will go to the
cinema with her. May I?
Mother: _______________________ (you / do) your homework yet?
Daughter: Well, I ________________________ (do) it for about 2 hours now, but I
_________________________ (finish / not) it yet.
Mother: If you __________________________ (not complete) your homework, you
cannot go. School comes first. Remember, you ______________________ (promise)
me to study harder this year.
Daughter: But mum, I ____________________________ (work) really hard this year
and I _________________________ (already improve) in Maths and Chemistry.
Mother: But that's only because I always push you to do something.
Daughter: But I also need a break some time. Look, I _____________________(be) to
the cinema for two months. May I go? Just this once.
29. Tom: Hi Ana. I ________________________ (try) to ring you several times today.
Where ______________________ (you / be)?
Ana: I ____________________ (be) at home all the time. But I ____________________
(clean) the house all day, so maybe I didn't hear the phone ring.
Tom: ______________________ (you / clean) everything now?
Ana: No, not yet. I _______________________ (tidy) up the kitchen yet. But why are
you here?
Tom: Don't you remember? Jane ________________________ (invite) us to her
birthday party and we ________________________ (buy) a present for her yet.
Ana: Oh, that's right. _________________________ (you / find out) yet what she
wants?
Tom: Well, she _________________________ (learn) Spanish for a year and wants to
spend her next holiday in Mexico. Maybe we could get her a guide book.
Ana: That's a good idea. There is a good bookshop in the big shopping centre. I
____________________________ (see) some nice books about Mexico there recently.
KEY
I. Which of the two sentences below is the better or more likely?
I’ve worked in the garden all day and now I’m tired.
I’ve been working in the garden all day and now I’m tired.
What have you done? You’re all wet.
What have you been doing? You’re all wet.
I’ve finished my homework. Now I’m going to watch TV.
I’ve been finishing my homework. Now I’m going to watch TV.
What have you done with my keys? - I haven’t seen your keys.
What have you been doing with my keys? - I haven’t seen your keys.
She’s worked in the garden all morning and she’s still not finished.
She’s been working in the garden all morning and she’s still not finished.
Why are you sweating? - I’ve cut the grass.
Why are you sweating? - I’ve been cutting the grass.
How many biscuits have you eaten?
How many biscuits have you been eating?
How long have you been knowing her?
How long have you known her?
I’ve had this computer for over 10 years.
I’ve been having this computer for over 10 years.
I’ve had piano lessons for over 10 years and I’m still not very good.
I’ve been having piano lessons for over 10 years and I’m still not very good.
How long has he seen her? - Not long, but they’re getting married next month.
How long has he been seeing her? - Not long, but they’re getting married next month.
I have cooked for the last two hours and now you tell me you’re not hungry!
I have been cooking for the last two hours and now you tell me you’re not hungry!
He’s put on a lot of weight since he came to Germany.
He’s been putting on a lot of weight since he came to Germany.
Why are you crying? - I’ve cut onions.
Why are you crying? - I’ve been cutting onions.
Has the film started yet?
Has the film been starting yet?
They have built the new road around the school for more than a year.
They have been building the new road around the school for more than a year.
Teacher to student: Have you done your homework?
Teacher to student: Have you been doing your homework?
Someone has taken my dictionary!
Someone has been taking my dictionary!
Has John told you about the party next week? - No, I haven’t seen him today.
Has John been telling you about the party next week? - No, I haven’t seen him today.
Has John been telling you about the party next week? - No, I haven’t seen him today.
Has John been telling you about the party next week? - No, we were talking about last
weekend.
II. Choose the best option to complete the sentences.
1. Two races have already taken / been taking place this morning, but it’s rained/ been
raining since 2 pm, so nothing is happening at the moment.
2. I’ve injured / I’ve been injuring my leg, so I haven’t wanted / haven’t been wanting to
compete in the last month or two. It’s really annoying.
3. Although she has known / has been knowing how to play chess since she was a little
girl, she’s only just started / been starting playing seriously.
4. A: How far have you swum / been swimming?
B: Well, I’ve swum / been swimming for 45 minutes, so about 2 kilometers, I think.
5. The coach hasn’t chosen / hasn’t been choosing me for the team yet, but I’ve trained /
I’ve been training all year!
6. A: How many times has your team won / been winning the cup?
B: None, but they have a chance this year. They have been playing / have played really
well recently.
7. He’s been reading / read books since he was five. He’s been finishing / finished
hundreds.
IV. PRESENT PERFECT OR PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
1. Why are your hands dirty? - Oh; I have been working (work) in the garden.
2. It’s nine o’clock. Jack has been teaching (teach) for four hours tonight.
3. I have been working/have worked (work) at this company for a long time.
4. Why are you shaking so? What have you been doing (you/do)?
5. Lucky Susan! She has visited (visit) so many different countries.
6. Have you finished (you/finish) your homework yet?
7. He has just arrived (arrive/just) from Tokyo.
8. Nick has bought (buy) a new house!
9. It’s a quarter to nine. I have been waiting (wait) for over two hours.
10. Have you ever driven (drive) a BMW?
11. I’d like to help you, but I have just eaten (just/eat) and I need to take a nap.
12. Frank has failed (fail) his driving test 4 times! Recently, he has been practicing
(practice) a lot and he should pass it the next time he takes it.
13. FBI agents have been looking (look for) the murderer for two weeks now.
Unfortunately, they haven’t been able (be able/find) any suspects.
14. I can’t believe it! It has been raining (rain) all day!
15. He has been doing (do) his homework all day, but he hasn’t finished (finish) yet.
16. It smells like fish in here. – Well, that’s no surprise. I have been cooking (cook) fish
stew.
17. George has been playing (play) golf since 9 o’clock this morning. He has played (play)
18 holes.
18. Why are you so red? - Well I have been sunbathing (sunbathe).
19. Do you think anything has happened (happen) to Tom? We have been waiting (wait)
for him for a long time now.
20. She has been reading (read) Stephen King's latest novel for the past 4 days. She has
read (read) every novel he has ever written (ever/write).
21. They have driven (drive) over 300 miles today.
22. How many times have I told you (I / tell) you?
23. The kitchen floor is covered with mud! What have the children been doing (the
children/do)?
24. Jack has already eaten (already/eat) so he won’t be joining us for lunch.
25. Joe has been eating (eat) too much recently. He should eat less.
26. Someone has eaten (eat) all my biscuits. The box is empty.
27. Look! Somebody has broken (break) that window!
28. Daughter: Mum, Jane has just phoned (phone / just) to ask if I will go to the cinema
with her. May I?
Mother: Have you done (you / do) your homework yet?
Daughter: Well, I have been doing (do) it for about 2 hours now, but I haven’t finished
(finish / not) it yet.
Mother: If you haven’t completed (not complete) your homework, you cannot go.
School comes first. Remember, you have promised (promise) me to study harder this
year.
Daughter: But mum, I have been working (work) really hard this year and I have
already improved (already improve) in Maths and Chemistry.
Mother: But that's only because I always push you to do something.
Daughter: But I also need a break some time. Look, I haven’t been (be) to the cinema
for two months. May I go? Just this once.
29. Tom: Hi Ana. I have tried (try) to ring you several times today. Where have you been
(you / be)?
Ana: I have been (be) at home all the time. But I have been cleaning (clean) the house
all day, so maybe I didn't hear the phone ring.
Tom: Have you cleaned (you / clean) everything now?
Ana: No, not yet. I haven’t tidied (tidy) up the kitchen yet. But why are you here?
Tom: Don't you remember? Jane has invited (invite) us to her birthday party and we
haven’t bought (buy) a present for her yet.
Ana: Oh, that's right. Have you found out (you / find out ) yet what she wants?
Tom: Well, she has been learning (learn) Spanish for a year and wants to spend her
next holiday in Mexico. Maybe we could get her a guide book.
Ana: That's a good idea. There is a good bookshop in the big shopping centre. I have
seen (see) some nice books about Mexico there recently.
