Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous

Exercises

Explanation

1. Form

Present Perfect Simple: have / has + past participle (V3)

• I have visited that museum.

• She has written two emails.

Present Perfect Continuous: have / has + been + verb-ing

• I have been visiting different museums recently.

• She has been writing emails all morning.

2. The Main Difference: Result vs Activity

Present Perfect Simple → Focus on the result

We use it when the outcome or completed action is important.

• You’ve cleaned your room — it looks great now.

• He has repaired the car, so we can use it again.

• I’ve watched that movie twice.

Present Perfect Continuous → Focus on the activity

We use it when the action itself, its duration, or its unfinished nature is important.

• I’ve been cleaning my room — that’s why I’m tired.

• She has been repairing her bike for hours.

• They’ve been watching a series all afternoon.

3. “How many” vs “How long”

Present Perfect Simple → “How many?”

• She has written five articles today.

• I’ve drunk two cups of tea.

Present Perfect Continuous → “How long?”

• She has been writing articles since the morning.

• I’ve been drinking tea all day.

4. Completed or Ongoing?

Present Perfect Simple → Often completed actions

• I’ve finished the report.

• They’ve bought a new sofa.

Present Perfect Continuous → May still be continuing

• I’ve been working on the report. (Maybe it’s not done yet.)

• They’ve been looking for a new sofa. (The search may continue.)

5. Evidence of Recent Activity (Continuous)

We use the Present Perfect Continuous when we see signs that something was happening recently:

• Your hair is wet. Have you been swimming?

• He’s out of breath. He’s been running.

• The table is messy. Have they been cooking?

6. Ongoing States and Actions

Present Perfect Simple → ongoing states

We use for, since, how long with states.

• How long have you known Anna?

• I’ve known her since 2018.

• We’ve lived here for ten years.

Present Perfect Continuous → ongoing actions

We use for, since, how long with repeated or continuous activities.

• How long have they been practising?

• They’ve been practising for two hours.

• They’ve been practising every weekend since January.

7. Temporary Situations (Continuous)

The Present Perfect Continuous often shows something temporary:

• My usual café is closed, so I’ve been working in the library this week.

• I’ve been taking the early train because my car is in the garage.