Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous Exercises ... - Free Printable

Explanation of the Task

The task involves completing sentences using either the Present Perfect Simple or the Present Perfect Continuous tense. These tenses are used to describe actions that have been completed in the past but have a connection to the present, or actions that started in the past and continue up to the present.

#### Key Differences:
1. Present Perfect Simple:
- Used for completed actions with a result or impact in the present.
- Structure: Subject + has/have + Past Participle (e.g., "I have eaten.")
- Example: "I have finished my homework."

2. Present Perfect Continuous:
- Used for ongoing actions that started in the past and continue up to the present.
- Structure: Subject + has/have + been + Present Participle (e.g., "I have been eating.")
- Example: "I have been studying for hours."

Solution to Exercise 1

1. Have they arrived already?
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

2. Lucy has run 2000 metres today.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

3. I have been cleaning all morning – I’m fed up!
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

4. How long have you known Simon?
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

5. I have drunk more water lately, and I feel better.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

6. Sorry about the mess! I have been baking.
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

7. How many times have you taken this exam?
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

8. He has eaten six bars of chocolate today!
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

9. Julie has cooked dinner. Let’s go and eat!
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

10. The students have finished their exams. They’re very happy.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

11. The baby’s face is really dirty! What has he eaten?
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

12. Iona is exhausted these days. She has been working too hard recently.
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

13. Luke has never been abroad.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

14. I have been waiting for three hours already!
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

15. Have you finished your homework yet?
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

16. How long have you been a lawyer?
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

17. I have been reading your book all day. It’s very interesting, but I’m only on chapter 2.
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

18. She has drunk ten glasses of water!
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

19. I have had my dog for sixteen years.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

20. Help, I have lost my wallet! How can I get home?
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

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Solution to Exercise 2

1. I haven’t done the housework yet.
- Present Perfect Simple (negative form; completed action not yet done).

2. They have studied very hard recently.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

3. She has promised to help many times.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

4. He has cleaned the kitchen. Everything is sparkling clean.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

5. She has written her essay and sent it to her professor.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

6. He has seen the film ‘The King’s Speech’ about six times.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

7. We have painted our living room. I think it looks a lot better.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

8. She has been taking French lessons lately.
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

9. It hasn’t rained for three hours! Only about one hour.
- Present Perfect Simple (negative form; completed action not happening).

10. Lucy has already left.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

11. How many times have you visited Scotland?
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

12. I have been calling John for hours and hours and he hasn’t answered. I’m really angry with him!
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

13. I have been in London for three years.
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

14. We have known James for ages.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

15. It’s really smelly in here. Somebody has smoked.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

16. How much petrol has she bought?
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

17. She has been eating chocolate all morning, so she feels sick.
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

18. I have been painting my house all day, but it’s not finished yet.
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

19. Julie has been at the office since 6 am.
- Present Perfect Continuous (ongoing action from the past until now).

20. The writer has deserved this award for a long time.
- Present Perfect Simple (completed action with a result in the present).

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Final Answer

Exercise 1:
1. Have they arrived already?
2. Lucy has run 2000 metres today.
3. I have been cleaning all morning – I’m fed up!
4. How long have you known Simon?
5. I have drunk more water lately, and I feel better.
6. Sorry about the mess! I have been baking.
7. How many times have you taken this exam?
8. He has eaten six bars of chocolate today!
9. Julie has cooked dinner. Let’s go and eat!
10. The students have finished their exams. They’re very happy.
11. The baby’s face is really dirty! What has he eaten?
12. Iona is exhausted these days. She has been working too hard recently.
13. Luke has never been abroad.
14. I have been waiting for three hours already!
15. Have you finished your homework yet?
16. How long have you been a lawyer?
17. I have been reading your book all day. It’s very interesting, but I’m only on chapter 2.
18. She has drunk ten glasses of water!
19. I have had my dog for sixteen years.
20. Help, I have lost my wallet! How can I get home?

Exercise 2:
1. I haven’t done the housework yet.
2. They have studied very hard recently.
3. She has promised to help many times.
4. He has cleaned the kitchen. Everything is sparkling clean.
5. She has written her essay and sent it to her professor.
6. He has seen the film ‘The King’s Speech’ about six times.
7. We have painted our living room. I think it looks a lot better.
8. She has been taking French lessons lately.
9. It hasn’t rained for three hours! Only about one hour.
10. Lucy has already left.
11. How many times have you visited Scotland?
12. I have been calling John for hours and hours and he hasn’t answered. I’m really angry with him!
13. I have been in London for three years.
14. We have known James for ages.
15. It’s really smelly in here. Somebody has smoked.
16. How much petrol has she bought?
17. She has been eating chocolate all morning, so she feels sick.
18. I have been painting my house all day, but it’s not finished yet.
19. Julie has been at the office since 6 am.
20. The writer has deserved this award for a long time.

Final Answer:
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