Explanation
Exercises

Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous (B1)

Form · Meaning · Signal words · Typical mistakes

Quick overview

  • Present perfect simple = have/has + past participle (V3) → finished actions with a link to now, life experience, how many times, or states since the past.
  • Present perfect continuous = have/has been + -ing → action verbs for duration from past until now, repeated activity, or recent activity with present results.
  • Use for + period (for two years), since + starting point (since 2022), how long to ask about duration.

Form: Present perfect simple

Affirmative: I/you/we/they have + V3 · He/she/it has + V3

✅ I've finished. · ✅ She has found a job.

Negative: haven’t / hasn’t + V3

❎ I haven’t seen him yet.

Questions: Have/Has + subject + V3?

⟲ Have you met her? · Has he called?

Short answers: Yes, I have. / No, she hasn’t. (Not: “Yes, I’ve.”)

Short forms: ’ve, ’s, haven’t, hasn’t

Form: Present perfect continuous

Affirmative: have/has been + V-ing

✅ We have been studying all morning.

Negative: haven’t / hasn’t been + V-ing

❎ She hasn’t been sleeping well lately.

Questions: Have/Has + subject + been + V-ing?

⟲ Has he been working here long?

Present perfect simple — main uses

  1. Past recent events (time not mentioned). She’s had an accident. · I’ve passed the exam.
  2. Life experience (we don’t say when). Have you ever tried sushi? · I’ve never been to India.
  3. Unfinished states from past to now (often stative verbs). We’ve known each other since school.
  4. Results of a completed action now. I’ve washed the car. (It’s clean.)
  5. How many times until now. I’ve seen that film three times.
  6. Been to vs gone to: Tom has gone to Ireland (he’s there now). · We have been to Ireland (we’re back).

Present perfect continuous — main uses

  1. Duration from past until now with action verbs. I’ve been working here for five years.
  2. Recent activity with present evidence. Have you been crying? (Your eyes are red.)
  3. Repeated activity up to now. She’s been calling you all week.
  4. Emphasis on how long. I’ve been waiting for hours!

Signal words & word order

Simple: just, already, ever, never, before, recently, today/this week, so far, yet

  • just / already / ever / never normally go between have/has and the verb: I’ve just finished. · Have you ever been…?
  • yet → end position in negatives & questions: I haven’t finished yet. · Have you called yet?
  • still with negatives goes before have/has: I still haven’t heard from her.

Continuous: for, since, how long, lately, recently, all day/week/month

  • for + period (for two hours) · since + point in time (since 7 a.m.)
  • How long + present perfect (simple/continuous): How long have you been learning English?

Simple vs Continuous — which one?

Use case
Choose
Example
Finished action with a present result
Simple
I’ve cleaned the kitchen. (It’s clean now.)
Ongoing activity / duration
Continuous
I’ve been cleaning the kitchen for an hour.
Quantity / number done
Simple
I’ve written twenty emails.
Process evidence (tired/dirty/sweaty)
Continuous
I’m sweaty — I’ve been running.
Stative verbs (be, know, like, own, seem…)
Simple only
We’ve known each other for years. Not: ✗ We’ve been knowing…

Present perfect or past simple?

  • Present perfect when time is not mentioned or is unfinished: I’ve seen John today. (Today isn’t over.)
  • Past simple when the time is finished or mentioned: I saw John yesterday / at 3 p.m.
  • Introduce with present perfect, then give details in past simple: I’ve broken my arm. — How did it happen?
  • Never use “ago” with the present perfect. ✔ I’ve lived here for two years. ✗ I’ve lived here two years ago.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • *Have you finished yet? — Yes, I have. (Not: “Yes, I’ve.”)
  • May/might + bare infinitive: might arrive (no to).
  • Ever/never/just/already position: She’s already left. · I’ve just arrived.
  • Been vs gone: has gone to (still there) vs has been to (visited & back).
Exercises:
1
2
3

Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous

Choose the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous to complete the sentences below. If both tenses are possible, use the present perfect continuous.
1
I for an hour, and my legs are really tired now.
2
I'm sorry I'm late — for a long time?
3
How long at this company?
4
Someone all the cake — there isn’t any left.
5
Someone my cake — there are crumbs on the plate.
6
How many emails today?
7
She must be exhausted — she for the exam all day.
8
I this report since lunch.
9
So far I ten pages.
10
I chocolate since I was a child.

Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous

Choose the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous for each gap below.
1
I ______ the book you lent me; I’m halfway through.
A.
B.
C.
2
She ______ three reports today; here they are.
A.
B.
C.
3
Your hands are dirty. What ______?
A.
B.
C.
4
We ______ each other for over ten years.
A.
B.
C.
5
It ______ all day, and the garden is soaked.
A.
B.
C.
6
I ______ just ______ the printer; it should work now.
A.
B.
C.
7
Sorry I’m late — we ______ for a table since 7 o’clock.
A.
B.
C.
8
My clothes are wet because I ______ the car.
A.
B.
C.
9
How many pages ______ so far?
A.
B.
C.
10
We ______ this issue for months, but we still haven’t found a solution.
A.
B.
C.

Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous

Complete the dialogues below with the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous of the verbs in brackets. If both tenses are possible, use the present perfect continuous.
1
A: I'm exhausted. We (walk) since noon.
2
B: You look great! (you/lose) weight?
3
A: Sorry I'm late. I (wait) for a bus for thirty minutes.
4
B: While you were out, how many emails (you/send) today?
5
A: Why is the floor wet? B: I (clean) the kitchen.
6
A: The kitchen looks spotless. B: Yes, I (clean) it.
7
A: How long has Leo worked here? B: He (work) here since 2018.
8
A: Your hands are filthy! What (you/do)?
9
B: I can’t open that file. A: No problem — I (just/send) you a new link.
10
A: Are we late? B: No, the match (not/start) yet.