PRESENT PERFECT vs PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

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Present Perfect
I have worked
She hasnt worked.
Have they worked.?

Present Perfect Continuous

I have been working.
She hasnt been working.
Have they been working.?

The Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous are both used to
describe events or activities which started in the past and have continued up to
the present, or activities which stopped recently.
Some verbs can be used in either the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect
Continuous with little difference in meaning. These are verbs which describe
activities which normally happen over a period of time, e.g. live, study, learn,
wait, work, etc:
Martin has lived / has been living in Australia for five years.
We use the Present Perfect:

We use the Present Perfect

Continuous:

To talk about how often or how many times

something has happened:
Ive driven there several times before.
Ive worried about her every day since she set
off.

To talk about how long something has been

happening:

To focus on the results of an activity or event

which is complete:

To focus on the activity or event itself

(whether it is complete or not is unimportant):

I've read the newspapers. (=I've finished

reading them)
I've mended the car. (=I've just finished so we
can go out in it now)

He's been reading the newspapers while he

was waiting for her. (=we're interested in how
he passed the time . not if he read every
page)
I've been mending the car. (that's why I'm
dirty)

I've been driving since 5 o'clock this morning.

We've been worrying about her all week.

A. Read this conversation between two people in a sports club. Underline the most suitable form of the verbs.
Anna - Excuse me. We've waited / We've been waiting (1) to play tennis since 10.30. It must be our turn now.
How long have you played / have you been playing (2)?
Tim - Since about 9.30. We've played / We've been playing (3) two matches so far this morning and we
haven't finished / we haven't been finishing (4) the third yet. You'll have to wait or do something else.
Have you tried / Have you been trying (5) the swimming pool?
Anna - We don't want to swim, we want to play tennis. You've played / You've been playing (6) for more than
two hours and it's our turn. We are tired of waiting and we haven't got anything to do. We've read /
We've been reading (7) the magazines we brought with us.
Tim - I said you'll have to wait. I always play on a Saturday morning. Anyway, we've already started / we've
already been starting (8) the third match.
Anna - Oh well, it looks like we've got no choice, but we've booked / we've been booking (9) the court for next
Saturday so you'll be unlucky then.
in Grammar for First Certificate - CUP

Score

5-8 -
9-

Less than 5 -

Try again!

KEY
A.
Anna - Excuse me. We've waited / We've been waiting (1) to play tennis since 10.30. It must be our turn now.
How long have you played / have you been playing (2)?
Tim - Since about 9.30. We've played / We've been playing (3) two matches so far this morning and we
haven't finished / we haven't been finishing (4) the third yet. You'll have to wait or do something else.
Have you tried / Have you been trying (5) the swimming pool?
Anna - We don't want to swim, we want to play tennis. You've played / You've been playing (6) for more than
two hours and it's our turn. We are tired of waiting and we haven't got anything to do. We've read /
We've been reading (7) the magazines we brought with us,
Tim - I said you'll have to wait. I always play on a Saturday morning. Anyway, we've already started / we've
already been starting (8) the third match.
Anna - Oh well, it looks like we've got no choice, but we've booked / we've been booking (9) the court for next
Saturday so you'll be unlucky then.