Present perfect simple and continuous

(I have done and I have been doing)

23 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

1 attachment

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

1 Have you ever visited Ibiza? 4 We’ve just got home from the beach.
a Did you visit Ibiza? a We were at the beach very recently.
b Have you been to Ibiza? ✓ b We haven’t been to the beach for a long time.
c Have you visited Ibiza recently? c We went to the beach yesterday.
2 This is the first time I’ve been skiing. 5 My manager hasn’t been at work for a week.
a I’ve been skiing once before. a My manager has left the company.
b I haven’t been skiing for a long time. b My manager has been away for a week.
c I’ve never been skiing before. c My manager didn’t come to work last week.
3 I’ve had two holidays this year. 6 I haven’t checked my emails since this morning.
a I’ve just come back from holiday. a I have just checked my emails.
b I’ve been on holiday twice this year. b I haven’t checked my emails today.
c I’ve been away for two weeks. c I checked my emails this morning.
 Present perfect simple and continuous
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25 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 my 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.
 Present perfect simple and continuous

26 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 my phone! You’ve been breaking my phone!
27 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)
my 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 my 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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28 Complete the sentences with the verbs in the correct form: present perfect simple or
present perfect continuous.
1 earlier this morning now 2 a moment ago now

Why do you need a new phone?

You look
very tired.

Yes, I am.I’ve been cleaning Because I

my room all morning. .

3 earlier this afternoon now 4 earlier this year now

How did you get You dance much better
in such a mess? than you used to!

Thank you. Actually,

I
.
Well, I
sausages.

5 about now now 6 earlier now

Isn’t your husband here? You’re looking very nice.

Thanks, I
Sorry, no. He .
.

7 a few minutes ago now 8 earlier this week now

Why are you Can you give me a lift
crying? to work tomorrow?

Don’t worry. It’s because I I’m afraid I can’t. You see, I

. .
 Present perfect simple and continuous; past simple
(I have done and I have been doing; I did)

29 Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence.
1 We haven’t been to a beach party for over a year.
The last time we went to a beach party was over a year ago.
2 Your wedding was the last time I wore a long dress.
I since your wedding.
3 It’s nearly twenty years since my father saw his brother.
My father for nearly twenty years.
4 James went to Bratislava last Friday and is still there.
James has to Bratislava.
5 When did you learn to drive?
How long is it to drive?
6 The last time I went scuba diving was when we were in Egypt.
I haven’t we were in Egypt.
7 You haven’t cut the grass for weeks.
It’s weeks the grass.
8 We started looking for a flat two months ago and we’re still looking.
We’ve a flat for two months.
9 This is the first time I’ve been to a spa.
I to a spa before.
10 Kim lost her job a year ago and is still trying to find one.
Kim a job for a whole year.

30 Use your own ideas to complete the sentences. Use the present perfect simple,
the present perfect continuous or the past simple.
1 Since we bought this car, we’ve done lots of trips round the country.
or we’ve been doing lots of trips round the country.
2 My colleague was ill, so I had to work overtime last week.
3 for several years.
4 since yesterday.
5 When I was a child, .
6 five minutes ago.
7 It’s three weeks since .
8 For the past three weeks .
9 in 2016.
10 since I came into this room.
11 Last December .
12 since I got up this morning.