TEACHER’S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Present Perfect Continuous Review

Activity Type Introduction

Reading, matching and In this grammar review worksheet, students revise the uses of
writing activity the present perfect continuous and identify how it is different
from the present perfect simple.

Language Focus Procedure

Present perfect
Give a copy of the two-page worksheet to each student.
continuous

Present perfect simple Students begin by matching sentence halves together to make
present perfect continuous sentences.

Aim Exercise A - Answer key

To review the uses of 1. e 2. g 3. h 4. c 5. f 6. b 7. d 8. a

the present perfect
continuous and identify Next, students read a set of sentences and underline the correct
how it is different from perfect tense in each one.
the present perfect
simple. Exercise B - Answer key

1. has been cleaning

Preparation 2. have eaten
Make one copy of the 3. have been going
two-page worksheet for 4. has had
each student. 5. have painted
6. have been working
7. hasn't been sending
Level 8. has sold
9. has been studying
Intermediate (B1) 10. has been raining, haven't been going
11. has planted
12. has been learning
Time
30 minutes Students then complete a grammar explanation on the difference
between the present perfect simple and the present perfect
continuous based on what they've learned.

Exercise C - Answer key

We use the present perfect when the action is finished, and the
result or condition comes from the action being completed.

We use the present perfect continuous to focus on the action

itself, while we use the present perfect to focus on the fact that
the action is completed.

(continued on the next page)

Note: This is an editable PDF. To edit the document, select the Edit
PDF tool in Acrobat.

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 TEACHER’S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Present Perfect Continuous Review

Activity Type Procedure continued

Reading, matching and After that, students use verbs from a box to write present perfect
writing activity continuous sentences to explain the present conditions expressed
in the prompts.

Language Focus Exercise D - Possible answers

Present perfect
continuous 1. ...it's been raining all day.
2. ...she's been running on the beach.
Present perfect simple 3. ...he's been eating snacks.
4. ...she's been downloading a lot of films.
5. ...she's been cleaning with lemon-scented products.
Aim 6. ...I've been decorating it with lights.
7. ...I've been talking on it for hours.
To review the uses of
8. ...he's been rehearsing it all week.
the present perfect
9. ...it's been playing in the rain.
continuous and identify
10. ...she's been painting a portrait of me.
how it is different from
11. ...I've been exercising every day.
the present perfect
12. ...he's been working hard all week.
simple.
Finally, students use prompts to write what each person usually
Preparation does versus what they have been doing recently. In this exercise,
students practice using the present perfect continuous to express
Make one copy of the a recent or temporary change in someone's routine.
two-page worksheet for
each student. Exercise E - Answer key

1. F red often goes out with his friends, but lately he's been staying
Level home with his girlfriend.
Intermediate (B1) 2. Sasha normally sleeps in, but recently she's been waking up
early.
3. David usually drives to work, but lately he's been taking the
Time bus.
4. Rahul normally works past 9:00pm, but recently he's been
30 minutes leaving work early.

Note: This is an editable PDF. To edit the document, select the Edit
PDF tool in Acrobat.

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Present Perfect Continuous Review

A. Match the sentence halves together to make present perfect continuous sentences.

1. I've been swimming all ........ a. out these past few months.

2. She has been ........ b. for a new house in the city.

3. We've been catching ........ c. your things for the big move?

4. Have you been packing ........ d. me since you woke up.

5. She hasn't been speaking ........ e. afternoon because it's a hot day.

6. They've been looking ........ f. because she's concentrating.

7. You've been annoying ........ g. getting ready for the party.

8. We haven't been working ........ h. up all afternoon. We haven't seen each other
in a while.

B. Underline the correct perfect tense in each sentence.

1. She has cleaned / been cleaning the bathroom all morning because it's very dirty.

2. They have eaten / been eating all the cake, and there's none left for me!

3. I have gone / been going to the same hair stylist for years because she's really good.

4. He has had / been having this car since he got his driver's permit. He needs a new one.

5. I have painted / been painting the nursery for the new baby. It's yellow with blue flowers.

6. I have worked / been working on my garden all summer. Isn't it beautiful?

7. Sue hasn't sent / been sending texts while on holiday, so her parents are worried.

8. Brian has sold / been selling twenty new houses this month. He's the top salesman!

9. Charlie has studied / been studying all week. He's ready for his exam tomorrow.

10. It has rained / been raining all week so we haven't gone / been going running.

11. Audry has planted / been planting over fifty different flowers in her garden.

12. Eva has learned / been learning Spanish at an evening class for three years.

C. Choose the correct tense to complete each grammar explanation.

We use the present perfect / present perfect continuous when the action is
finished, and the result or condition comes from the action being completed.

We use the present perfect / present perfect continuous to focus on the

action itself, while we use the present perfect / present perfect continuous
to focus on the fact that the action is completed.

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.

 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

ESL / EFL RESOURCES Present Perfect Continuous Review

D. Use the verbs from the box to write present perfect continuous sentences to explain
the present conditions expressed in the prompts.

exercise download rain decorate rehearse

work clean talk paint run eat play

1. The field is all wet because ......................................................................................

2. Marsha is very sweaty because ...................................................................................

3. Yuri isn't hungry now because ....................................................................................

4. Ruth's computer is slow because .................................................................................

5. Maria's house smells nice because................................................................................

6. The Christmas tree looks colourful because ..................................................................

7. My mobile battery is low because ................................................................................

8. Thomas isn't nervous for his presentation because ........................................................

9. My dog is soaked because ..........................................................................................

10. My daughter is covered in paint because ....................................................................

11. I am feeling very healthy because .............................................................................

12. George is exhausted because ...................................................................................

E. The present perfect continuous can also be used to express a recent or temporary
change in a person's routine. Use the prompts to rewrite the sentences to say what
each person normally does versus what they've been doing recently.

Example: Jill / usually / eat fast food / recently / eat home-cooked meals
Jill usually eats fast food but recently she's been eating home-cooked meals.
..................................................................................................................................

1. Fred / often / go out with his friends / lately / stay home with his girlfriend

..................................................................................................................................

2. Sasha normally / sleep in / recently / wake up early

..................................................................................................................................

3. David / usually / drive to work / lately / take the bus

..................................................................................................................................

4. Rahul / normally / work past 9:00pm / recently / leave work early

..................................................................................................................................

Teach-This.com © 2020 Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use.