Present perfect simple and continuous (I have done and I have been doing)

1. Complete the email with the present perfect simple form of the verbs.

From: Theresa
To: Flora
Subject: Hello from NYC!

Hi Flora

As you can see, I (1) __’ve arrived __ (arrive) safely. Paul and I (2) ________ (already / do) lots of things even though (3) ________ (I / only / be) in New York twenty-four hours. (4) ________ (I / not sleep) for two days! (5) ________ (I / take) hundreds of photos already. Paul (6) ________ (show) me lots of famous landmarks and (7) ________ (I / eat) a real American breakfast. (8) ________ (I / ride) in a yellow cab and (9) ________ (I / travel) on the subway too. (10) ________ (I / not spend) any money yet because Paul (11) ________ (pay) for everything so far. I’ll email you again tomorrow when (12) ________ (I / have) some sleep.

Love, Theresa

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2) have already done   3) I’ve only been

4) I haven’t slept   5) I’ve taken

6) ’s shown / has shown   7) I’ve eaten

8) I’ve ridden   9) I’ve travelled

10) I haven’t spent   11) ’s paid / has paid

12) I’ve had

2. Tick (✓) the sentence which means the same as the first sentence.

1) Have you ever visited Ibiza?


a Did you visit Ibiza?

b Have you been to Ibiza? ✓

      c  Have you visited Ibiza recently?

2) This is the first time I’ve been skiing.


a I’ve been skiing once before.

b I haven’t been skiing for a long time.

      c  I’ve never been skiing before.

3) I’ve had two holidays this year.


a I’ve just come back from holiday.

b I’ve been on holiday twice this year.

      c  I’ve been away for two weeks.

4) We’ve just got home from the beach.


a We were at the beach very recently.

b We haven’t been to the beach for a long time.

      c  We went to the beach yesterday.

5) manager hasn’t been at work for a week.


a manager has left the company.

b manager has been away for a week.

      c  manager didn’t come to work last week.

6) I haven’t checked emails since this morning.


a I have just checked emails.

b I haven’t checked emails today.

      c  I checked emails this morning.

Show answers

2) c   3) b   4) a   5) b   6) c

3. Complete the conversation with the verbs from the box in the correct form: present perfect simple or present perfect continuous. In some cases both forms are possible. You need to use some of the verbs more than once. Read the whole conversation before you begin.

be     come     do     drive     find     have     look


Julia is being interviewed by NICOLA for a job working with young children.

NICOLA:   Come in, JULIA. Please sit down. Would you like a coffee?

JULIA:       Thank you, actually I (1) __’ve just had __ (just) one.

NICOLA:   Oh good. Now, do you know this area at all?

JULIA:       Quite well. I’ve got friends who live in this town, so I (2) ________ here for holidays since I was a child. I’m staying with them at the moment, actually.

NICOLA:   Oh, that’s nice. And do you have a driving licence?

JULIA:       Yes. I (3) ________ for four years now.

NICOLA:   And would you say you’re a careful driver?

JULIA:       Yes, I think so. At least I (4) ________ (never) an accident.

NICOLA:   Good. Now, could you tell me why you think you would be right for this job?

JULIA:       Well, I (5) ________ (always) interested in working with small children. And I (6) ________ two holiday jobs looking after children.

NICOLA:   How do you think you would cope in an emergency?

JULIA:       I’m quite a calm person, I think. I (7) ________ a first-aid course too. I got a certificate.

NICOLA:   That’s good. Now, this job isn’t permanent, as you know. We need someone for about a year. How would that fit with your long-term plans?

JULIA:       I’d like to work abroad eventually. But I want some full-time experience first. I (8) ________ a Nursery Teacher’s course this year. We finish next week, in fact.

NICOLA:   When would you be able to start?

JULIA:       As soon as I finish course.

NICOLA:   Excellent. And would you live with your friends?

JULIA:       Well, probably not. I want to rent a small flat. I (9) ________ in the paper every day, but I (10) ________ (not) anything yet.

NICOLA:   Well, if you get the job, we’ll try to help you. Now, would you like to come and meet some of the children?

JULIA:       Oh, yes.

NICOLA:   Right, if you’ll just follow me then.

Show answers

2) ’ve been coming / have been coming or ’ve come / have come

3) ’ve been driving / have been driving

4) ’ve never had / have never had

5) ’ve always been / have always been

6) ’ve had / have had

7) ’ve done / have done

8) ’ve been doing / have been doing

9) ’ve looked / have looked or ’ve been looking / have been looking

10) haven’t found

4. Tick (✓) the sentences which are correct. In some pairs, one sentence is correct. In other pairs, both sentences are correct.

1) She’s had a headache all day. ✓

She’s been having a headache all day.

2) I’ve wanted a cat for a long time.

I’ve been wanting a cat for a long time.

3) They’ve eaten lunch.

They’ve been eating lunch.

4) I’ve known her for two years.

I’ve been knowing her for two years.

5) He’s been very helpful.

He’s been being very helpful.

6) He’s tasted the soup.

He’s been tasting the soup.

7) They’ve seen this movie before.

They’ve been seeing this movie before.

8) I’ve seen a throat specialist.

I’ve been seeing a throat specialist.

9) We’ve realised where we are now.

We’ve been realising where we are now.

10) It’s belonged to us for many years.

It’s been belonging to us for many years.

11) He’s explained the plan to us.

He’s been explaining the plan to us.

12) You’ve broken phone!

You’ve been breaking phone!

Show answers

2) Both

3) Both

4) I’ve known her for two years.

5) He’s been very helpful.

6) Both

7) They’ve seen this movie before.

8) Both

9) We’ve realised where we are now.

10) It’s belonged to us for many years.

11) Both

12) You’ve broken phone!

5. Put the verbs into the correct form: present perfect simple or present perfect continuous.

1) John’s terribly upset. __He’s broken off __ (he / break off) his engagement to Megan. Apparently __she’s been seeing __ (she / see) someone else while __he’s been __ (he / be) in Africa.

2) Could you translate this Arabic song for me? I understood Arabic when I was a child, but ________ (I / forget) it all.

3) What’s that mark on the side of the car? ________ (you / have) an accident?

4) The lock on this case is broken. ________ (you / play about) with it?

5) Your Portuguese is very good. ________ (you / study) it long?

6) Of course you don’t know what I think! ________ (you / never / ask) opinion.

7) I’m not surprised ________ (he / fail) the exam. (he / not / work) hard recently.

8) Mina’s hands are very dirty. ________ (she / repair) her bike.

9) I’m going to make some lunch for the kids. ________ (they / swim) all morning. I’m sure they’re hungry.

10) _____ (I / do) grammar exercises all morning. I deserve a break.

11) Where’s phone? This is the third time ________ (I / lose) it today!

12) Oh, do be quiet. ________ (you / grumble) all weekend!

13) Since Maria won that talent show ________ (she / spend) money like there’s no tomorrow. ________ (she / buy) a new car and ________ (she / move) to a big new house. ________ (she / throw) wonderful parties at her new house every weekend too. In fact, I’m going to one tomorrow.

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2) I’ve forgotten

3) Have you had

4) Have you been playing about

5) Have you been studying

6) You’ve never asked

7) he’s failed ___ He hasn’t been working

8) She’s been repairing

9) They’ve been swimming

10) I’ve been doing

11) I’ve lost

12) You’ve been grumbling

13) she’s been spending ___ She’s bought ___ she’s moved ___ She’s been throwing

6. Complete the sentences with the verbs in the correct form: present perfect simple or present perfect continuous.

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Example answers:

2) ’ve/have dropped old one or ’ve/have broken old one

3) ’ve/have been cooking

4) ’ve/have been going to dancing school or ’ve/have been having lessons

5) ’s/has gone to Australia

6) ’ve/have been to the hairdresser or ’ve/have had hair done

7) ’ve/have been chopping onions

8) ’ve/have sold car

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