Upper-intermediate grammar exercise (B2 level): present perfect simple vs. continuous (2)
English grammar practice exercise, upper-intermediate level
This exercise focuses on the difference between the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous.
Exercise instructions
Complete the sentences below by putting the verb in brackets into the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous.
| Structure of present perfect simple | ||
| positive | negative | question |
| I / you / we / they have gone. |
I / you / we / they haven’t gone. |
Have I / you / we / they gone? |
| he / she / it has gone. |
he / she / it hasn’t gone. |
Has he / she / it gone? |
| Structure of present perfect continuous | ||
| positive | negative | question |
| I / you / we / they have been working |
I / you / we / they haven’t been working |
Have I / you / we / they been working? |
| he / she / it has been working |
he / she / it hasn’t been working |
Has he / she / it been working? |
| Present perfect simple – common mistakes | ||
| Common mistakes | Correct version | Why? |
| I worked every day this week. | I have worked every day this week. | We use the present perfect (have worked) when we speak about an unfinished time period (this week, this year, etc). |
| Steven has wrote a new book. | Steven has written a new book. | We use the past participle of the verb – written is the past participle, wrote is the past simple. |
| Did you have seen him before? | Have you seen him before? | The helping verb have is used in the present perfect and it is inverted with the person (you have becomes have you). |
| I didn't have seen him before. | I haven't seen him before. | The helping verb have is used in the present perfect – to make it negative we simply add not (n't). |
| I am here since last week. | I have been here since last week. | The present perfect is used to show an action which continues to the present (an unfinished action). |
| I've been knowing him for 5 years. | I've known him for 5 years. | Verbs such as know, want, like, etc. (called stative verbs) suggest permanent states, not actions, so are used in the simple form, NOT the -ing form. |
| Present perfect continuous – common mistakes | ||
| Common mistakes | Correct version | Why? |
| It has been rain heavily all day. | It has been raining heavily all day. | The structure of the present perfect continuous is have/has + been + verb + -ing. |
| I have sat here for two hours. | I have been sitting here for two hours. | Verbs such as sit, wait, speak, etc. (‘non-stative’ verbs) suggest continuity and so are mostly used in the continuous (-ing) form. |
| Which? I have worked here for five years. I have been working here for five years. |
When BOTH the simple and continuous forms are possible, native speakers prefer to use the continuous. |
Melita - December 27, 2018, 5:38 pm
All grammar structures are presented clearly and easy to understand. Thank you very much!
Melita - December 27, 2018, 5:40 pm
All grammar structures are presented clearly and easy to understand. Thank you!
sobia shah - July 23, 2020, 2:27 am
it is very help full and easy to understand
Anonymous - December 21, 2020, 6:00 pm
It’s really easy to understand. Thanks a lot.
Andrea - August 13, 2021, 10:33 pm
Hi !
i don’t understand why we use the continuous form in these two sentences
Why are you out of breath? (you/run)
Who (eat) has eat my biscuits
Silvia - January 22, 2026, 2:02 pm
I don’t understand the number 10. Why should I use presenti perfect continuous? Isn’t the focus the risult?(buiscuits gone)
Colin - February 9, 2026, 1:49 pm
It has to do with telicity – having an end in sight. The first has no potential end – you can run for ever. The second has an in-built endpoint (my biscuits) – when they’re gone, they’re gone.
Anonymous - January 22, 2026, 2:01 pm
I don’t understand the number 10. Why should I use presenti perfect continuous? Isn’t the focus the risult?(buiscuits gone)
Stuart Cook - March 4, 2026, 11:35 am
The focus is on the activity and suggests that it isn’t complete (only half of the biscuits have gone). If they had all gone, it would be, ”Who has eaten my biscuits?”