Looking for present perfect simple and continuous exercises with answers?
This page offers free online practice activities to help you understand the difference between these two important English tenses. You can complete the exercises, check your answers, and download a printable PDF worksheet for extra practice.
Whether you’re a student preparing for exams or a teacher looking for classroom materials, these exercises will help you master the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous.
Table of Contents
Present Perfect Simple and Continuous Exercises
Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verb:
present perfect simple or present perfect continuous.
Pay attention to the context. Ask yourself:
- Is the focus on the result of the action?
- Or is the focus on the duration / ongoing activity?
Present Perfect and Continuous
You may want to read the lesson on the present perfect simple and continuous.
Additional Present Perfect Simple and Continuous Exercises
Exercise 5 – Multiple Choice
Choose the correct answer.
- She ________ in this company for five years.
a) works
b) has worked
c) worked - I’m tired because I ________ all day.
a) have worked
b) worked
c) have been working - They ________ the project yet.
a) haven’t finished
b) didn’t finish
c) haven’t been finishing - It ________ since early morning.
a) has rained
b) has been raining
c) rained - We ________ each other for a long time.
a) have known
b) have been knowing
c) knew - She ________ three emails this morning.
a) has sent
b) has been sending
c) had sent - He ________ here since he was a child.
a) has been living
b) was living
c) lived - I ________ for you for two hours!
a) have waited
b) waited
c) have been waiting - They ________ to Paris twice.
a) have gone
b) have been
c) went - She ________ the report, so she can relax now.
a) has finished
b) has been finishing
c) finished
2. c – I’m tired because I have been working all day.
3. a – They haven’t finished the project yet.
4. b – It has been raining since early morning.
5. a – We have known each other for a long time.
6. a – She has sent three emails this morning.
7. a – He has been living here since he was a child.
8. c – I have been waiting for you for two hours!
9. b – They have been to Paris twice.
10. a – She has finished the report, so she can relax now.
Exercise 6 – Error Correction
Each sentence contains a mistake. Correct it.
- She has been knowing him for years.
- I have written emails all morning. (focus on duration)
- They have been finishing the project already.
- We have waited since two hours.
- He has been reading the book yesterday.
2. I have been writing emails all morning.
3. They have already finished the project.
4. We have waited for two hours.
5. He read the book yesterday.
Quick Recap: Present Perfect Simple vs Continuous
Present Perfect Simple
- Form: have/has + past participle
- Focus: result or completed action
- Example:
I have finished my homework.
- Example:
Present Perfect Continuous
- Form: have/has + been + verb-ing
- Focus: duration or ongoing activity
- Example:
I have been studying for three hours.
- Example:
What Is the Difference?
| Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|---|
| Focus on result | Focus on duration |
| Completed action | Ongoing or recently stopped action |
| Often used with already, yet, ever, never | Often used with for, since, all day |
Still confused? Check our full lesson on the difference between the Present Perfect Simple and Continuous.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the present perfect simple and continuous?
The present perfect simple focuses on the result of an action, while the present perfect continuous emphasizes duration or the ongoing nature of the action.
When should I use present perfect continuous instead of simple?
Use the continuous form when you want to stress how long something has been happening or highlight a temporary ongoing activity.
1. To Stress Duration (How Long)
Examples:
– I have been studying for three hours.
→ The focus is on the length of time (three hours). We are emphasizing the duration of the activity, not the result.
(If we said I have studied for three hours, it’s possible, but it sounds less focused on the ongoing effort.)
2. To Highlight a Temporary Ongoing Activity
– She has been working at a café this summer.
→ This suggests the job is temporary and ongoing. It emphasizes the activity over a limited period of time.
(Compare with: She has worked at a café this summer. → This sounds more like a completed fact or summary of experience.)
Can we use “for” and “since” with both tenses?
Yes. Both tenses can be used with “for” and “since,” but the continuous form is more common when emphasizing duration.
Are these exercises suitable for beginners?
Yes. These exercises are suitable for pre-intermediate and intermediate learners. Teachers can also use them for classroom or homework practice.
