Controlling the weather

Controlling the weather?

Present perfect simple and continuous

Do you know the difference between

 We've painted the room and We've been painting the room?

Look at these examples to see how the present perfect simple and continuous are used.

• We've painted the bathroom. 

• She's been training for a half-marathon

• I've had three coffees already today!

• hey've been waiting for hours.

  
  

• Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Multiple Choice

I ___ the windows all day without any help! Two more and I can have a rest.

• 've been washing

• 've washed

Multiple Choice

You look nice! Have you ___ your hair cut?

• been having

• had

Multiple Choice

Has someone ___ my special bread? There's only a little bit left.

• been eating

• eaten

Multiple Choice

___ four goals and it's only half-time!

• They've been scoring

• They've scored

Multiple Choice

I've ___ English for three years and soon I'm going to be using it at work.

• been learning

• learned

Multiple Choice

A: Are you OK?

B: Yeah, I'm fine! I'm not crying. I've ___ onions!

• been chopping

• chopped

Multiple Choice

Finally! We ___ our house!

• 've been selling

• 've sold

Multiple Choice

Sorry, I'm late! How long ___?

• have you been waiting

• have you waited

Multiple Choice

Has someone ___ my special bread? There's only a little bit left.

• been eating

• eaten

Grammar explanation

• We use both the present perfect simple (have or has + past participle) and the present perfect continuous (have or has + been + -ing form) to talk about past actions or states which are still connected to the present.

• Focusing on result or activity

• The present perfect simple usually focuses on the result of the activity in some way,

• and the present perfect continuous usually focuses on the activity itself in some way. 

Ongoing states and actions

• We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect simple to talk about ongoing states.

  How long have you known each other?

  We've known each other since we were at school. 

  
  

• We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect continuous to talk about ongoing single or repeated actions.

  How long have they been playing tennis?

  They've been playing tennis for an hour.

  They've been playing tennis every Sunday for years.

  
  

Ongoing states and actions

• Sometimes the present perfect continuous can emphasise that a situation is temporary.

  I usually go to the gym on the High Street, but it's closed for repairs at the moment so I've been going to the one in the shopping centre. 

  
  

• Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Multiple Choice

Have you always ___ garlic?

• been hating

• hated

Multiple Choice

Thanks for the recipe book! We've ___ two different recipes so far.

• been trying

• tried

Multiple Choice

I'm worried about Sam. She's ___ too hard recently.

• been working

• worked

Multiple Choice

I've ___ to call the internet company all morning but I can't get through.

• been trying

• tried

Multiple Choice

She's ___ three main ways our company can reduce costs.

• been finding

• found

Multiple Choice

He's ___ for the party for weeks.

• been preparing

• prepared

Multiple Choice

You've got white dust all over you! What have you ___?

• been doing

• done

Multiple Choice

Have your parents ___ yet?

• been arriving

• arrived

• has been

• has caused

• has just finished

• have been trying

• have been exploring

• has discovered