English Grammar Exercises: Present perfect continuous and simple

Exercise 1 

Read the situation and complete the sentences. Use the verbs in brackets.

1) Tom started reading a book two hours ago. He is still reading it and now he is on page 53.

     ________ for two hours. (read)

     ________ 53 pages so far. (read)

2) Rachel is from Australia. She is travelling round Europe at the moment. She began her trip three months ago.

     She ________ for three months. (travel)

     ________ six countries so far. (visit)

3) Patrick is a tennis player. He began playing tennis when he was ten years old. This year he won the national championship again- for the fourth time.

     ________ the national championship four times. (win)

     ________ since he was ten. (play)

4) When they left college, Lisa and Sue started making films together. They still make films.

     They ________ films since they left college. (make)

     ________ five films since they left college. (make)

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1)

1   He has been reading

    He has read

2   She's been travelling / She has been travelling

    She's visited / She has visited

3   He's won / He has won …

    He's / He has been playing tennis

4   They've / They have been making (films …)

    They've / They have made (five films …)

Exercise 2 

For each situation, ask a question using the words in brackets.

1) You have a friend who is learning Arabic. You ask:

     (how long / learn / Arabic?) ________

2) You have just arrived to meet a friend. She is waiting for you. You ask:

     (wait / long?) Have ________

3) You see somebody fishing by the river. You ask:

     (catch / any fish?) ________

4) Some friends of yours are having a party next week. You ask:

     (how many people / invite?) ________

5) A friend of yours is a teacher. You ask:

     (how long / teach?) ________

6) You meet somebody who is a writer. You ask:

     (how many books / write?) ________

     (how long / write / books?) ________

7) A friend of yours is saving money to go on a world trip. You ask:

     (how long / save?) ________

     (how much money / save?) ________

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2)

1   How long have you been learning Arabic?

2   Have you been waiting long?

3   Have you caught any fish?

4   How many people have you invited?

5   How long have you been teaching?

6   How many books have you written?

    How long have you been writing books?

7   How long have you been saving?

    How much money have you saved?

Exercise 3 

Put the verb into the more suitable form, present perfect simple (I have done ) or continuous (I have been doing ).

1) Where have you been? ________ (you / play) tennis?

2) Look! ________ (somebody / break) that window.

3) You look tired. ________ (you / work) hard?

4) ' ________ (you / ever / work) in a factory?' 'No, never.'

5) 'Liz is away on holiday.' 'Is she? Where ________ (she / go)?'

6) brother is an actor. ________ (he / appear) in several films.

7) 'Sorry I'm late.' 'That's all right. ________ (I / not / wait) long.'

8) 'Is it still raining?' 'No, ________ (it / stop).’

9) _____ (I / lose) phone. ________ (you / see) it anywhere?

10) _____ (I / read) the book you lent me, but ________ (I / not I finish) it yet. It's very interesting.

11) _____ (I / read) the book you lent me, so you can have it back now.

12) This is a very old book. ________ (I / have) it since I was a child.

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3)

1   Have you been playing

2   Somebody's broken / Somebody has broken

3   Have you been working

4   Have you ever worked

5   has she gone

6   He's appeared / He has appeared

7   I haven't been waiting

8   it's stopped / it has stopped

9   I've lost / I have lost … Have you seen

10   I've been reading / I have been reading … I haven't finished

11   I've read / I have read

12   I've had / I have had