PRESENT PERFECT vs PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
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Present Perfect
I have worked…
She hasn’t worked….
Have they worked….?
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been working….
She hasn’t 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:
I’ve driven there several times before.
I’ve 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
1
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.
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