Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect is...

• has/have + past participle

• has/have + been + present participle

Which grammatical tense focuses on the result?

• present perfect

• present perfect continuous

I've been doing exercise. Gosh, I'm tired. This sentences focusses on...

• the result

• the activity

'I've been feeling a pain in my shoulder all day.' This sentence expresses...

• How many

• How long

"He has broken his leg twice." This sentence focuses on...

• How long

• How many

Her eyes are red. She ___________.

• has cried

• has been crying

Answer explanation

We use 'has been crying' because we use present perfect continuous to express evidence of a recent activity.

Tommy has a black eye. He _____________ in the playground.

• has fought

• has been fighting

Answer explanation

Again, we use the present perfect continuous ('he has been fighting') to show EVIDENCE of a recent activity.

She ____________ yoga since she was 20 years old. (I want to express that the action is still happening now and into the future).

• has been practising

• has practised

Answer explanation

You can use both, but saying 'has been practicising' is the better option because it emphasises the time and that she is still doing that hobby.

Recently, he _____________ (work out) at the gym.

• has worked out

• has been working out

Answer explanation

We use, 'has been working out', because this action is likely to continue.

She has ___________ following a different diet plan lately.