UI3_L08: Present Perfect Simple & Continuous

True or false?

When talking about 'how long', fluent speakers prefer the continuous form, but we can use the present perfect simple with little difference in meaning.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The questions below are very similar in meaning:

How long have you lived here?

How long have you been living here?

True or false?

The present perfect continuous is commonly used with the adverbs yet, already, always, never, ever and just.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The present perfect simple is commonly used with the adverbs yet, already, always, never, ever and just.

For example:

"I've already done that."

"Have you ever been there?"

"She's just arrived."

True or false?

The present perfect continuous can be used for a range of situations (e.g. to describe a state lasting up to the present moment, to refer to incomplete actions and to emphasise duration).

• True

• False

Answer explanation

• to describe a state lasting up to the present moment

"I have been waiting here since 8am."

• to refer to incomplete actions

"You've been writing this email for almost an hour!"

• to emphasise duration

"She's been working here since 1975."

True or false?

Certain verbs (e.g. stay, sit, wait, lie) are more commonly used in the simple form.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Certain verbs (e.g. stay, sit, wait, lie) are more commonly used in the continuous form.

For example:

'I've been staying here for a week."

"How long have you been waiting?"

"They've been sitting next to each other for the past couple of years."

True or false?

Don't use the continuous form when you want to emphasise the achievement and the number of items completed.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

For example:

He's ironed nine T-shirts. (instead of 'He's been ironing nine T-shirts.')

Which option best reflects the information below?

Adam read 3 books in January and 2 books in February. It's March now and he's looking for a new book.

• Adam has read 5 books this year.

• Adam has been reading 5 books this year.

Answer explanation

The present perfect continuous is not used when you want to emphasise a specific achievement and the number of items completed.

Which option best reflects the information below?

Josh likes reading multiple books at the same time. He started reading 3 different books last month. He still hasn't finished any of them.

• Josh has been reading 3 books since last month.

• Josh has read 3 books since last month.

Answer explanation

'Josh has read 3 books since last month.' is incorrect because he hasn't finished any of them.

Which option best reflects the information below?

It started raining last night. It's still raining.

• It is raining since last night.

• It has been raining since last night.

Answer explanation

Don't use the present continuous with 'for' or 'since'. Instead, use the present perfect continuous.

For example:

"It's snowing." (correct)

"It's snowing for days." (wrong)

"It has been snowing for days." (correct)

Which option best reflects the information below?

I met my best friend when I was a kid. We're still very close.

• I know my best friend since I was a kid.

• I've known my best friend since I was a kid.

Answer explanation

Don't use the present simple with 'for' or 'since'. Instead, use the present perfect simple.

For example:

"I have a laptop." (correct)

"I have this laptop since 2021." (wrong)

"I've had this laptop since 2021." (correct)