Present Perfect Continuous Tense - ESL worksheet by denizt - Free Printable

Task: Solve the problem and explain the solution

The task involves using the Present Perfect Continuous tense to fill in the blanks in sentences. The Present Perfect Continuous tense is formed using have/has + been + verb-ing. It is used to describe actions that started in the past and are still continuing or have just finished.

#### PART A) Fill in the blanks with the correct tense.

1. I'm tired, because I ________ very hard.
- Correct form: have been working
- Explanation: The action of "working" started in the past and is still affecting the present (causing tiredness).

2. He ________ letters all morning.
- Correct form: has been writing
- Explanation: The action of "writing" has been ongoing since the morning and is still happening or has just finished.

3. Catherine is getting fatter because she ________ too much.
- Correct form: has been eating
- Explanation: The action of "eating" has been ongoing and is causing Catherine to gain weight.

4. My mother ________ the potatoes all afternoon.
- Correct form: has been peeling
- Explanation: The action of "peeling" has been ongoing throughout the afternoon.

5. Cathy ________ a cookery course since March.
- Correct form: has been attending
- Explanation: The action of "attending" started in March and is still ongoing.

6. How long ________ you ________ English?
- Correct form: have been learning
- Explanation: The question asks about the duration of an ongoing action ("learning English").

7. Where are my eye-glasses? I ________ for them for an hour.
- Correct form: have been looking
- Explanation: The action of "looking" has been ongoing for an hour.

8. Charles ________ from the police for years.
- Correct form: has been escaping
- Explanation: The action of "escaping" has been ongoing for years.

9. How long ________ you ________ a computer?
- Correct form: have been using
- Explanation: The question asks about the duration of an ongoing action ("using a computer").

10. Elizabeth ________ with Mike for three years.
- Correct form: has been living
- Explanation: The action of "living" with Mike has been ongoing for three years.

11. She ________ quite a lot of money for the last two years.
- Correct form: has been earning
- Explanation: The action of "earning" money has been ongoing for the last two years.

12. It ________ for six hours.
- Correct form: has been raining
- Explanation: The action of "raining" has been ongoing for six hours.

---

#### PART B) Choose the correct one.

1. I've bought / have been buying a new pair of shoes.
- Correct form: I've bought
- Explanation: The Present Perfect Simple is used here because the action of buying shoes is a completed action in the past with a result in the present.

2. Have you finished / Have you been finishing reading that book yet?
- Correct form: Have you finished
- Explanation: The Present Perfect Simple is used here because the question is asking if the action of finishing the book is complete.

3. They've eaten / have been eating fruit all afternoon, ever since they came from school.
- Correct form: have been eating
- Explanation: The Present Perfect Continuous is used here because the action of eating fruit has been ongoing since they came from school.

4. I've been reading / have read this book now, so you can have it back.
- Correct form: have read
- Explanation: The Present Perfect Simple is used here because the action of reading the book is complete, and the speaker is ready to give it back.

5. I've been writing / have written eight pages already.
- Correct form: have written
- Explanation: The Present Perfect Simple is used here because the action of writing eight pages is complete.

---

Final Answers:

#### PART A
1. have been working
2. has been writing
3. has been eating
4. has been peeling
5. has been attending
6. have been learning
7. have been looking
8. has been escaping
9. have been using
10. has been living
11. has been earning
12. has been raining

#### PART B
1. I've bought
2. Have you finished
3. have been eating
4. have read
5. have written

---

Explanation:

- Present Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that started in the past and are still ongoing or have just finished.
- Present Perfect Simple: Used for completed actions with a result in the present.

This distinction helps determine which tense to use based on the context of the sentence.