Been there, done that
3 truths and 1 lie
I’ve been playing the piano since I was five.
I’ve visited Prague three times.
My son’s just completed his PhD.
I’ve been living in the same flat for 20 years.
I / You / We / have been to a new pair of shoes.
They (not)
climbed the novel Time shelter
travelled by Kilimanjaro.
He / She has (not) seen Croatia.
bought plane.
read the Pyramids.
I / You / We / have (not) studying for the same for a month.
They company
writing Korean since 2015.
been collecting on the floor for ages.
He / She has (not) working for the doctor all morning.
sleeping rock samples for four hours.
waiting a report since Monday.
Present Perfect Simple & Present Perfect
Continuous
We use the Present Perfect Simple:
to talk about a recent* completed action, e.g. I’ve lost my glasses. Or I’ve broken my
leg.
to talk about an experience at some unspecified time in your life, e.g. He’s climbed
Mount Everest. They’ve bought a new house.
We use the Present Perfect Continuous:
to talk about an activity that started in the past and is still continuing, e.g. We’ve
been waiting for a call since this morning.
To talk about a recent activity which continued for a while (it may or may not be
continuing), e.g. I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately.
recent = one that happened or started only a short time ago
recently = lately
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Continuous
We produce it with:
have/has + past participle (played/studied/done) ____
have/has + been + doing ____
regular or irregular verbs ____
We use it to express:
how many times an action happens? _____
the completion and result of an action? _____
the process and duration of an action? _____
an action that is incomplete or has finished recently? _____
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Continuous
We produce it with:
have/has + past participle (done) PPS
have/has + been + doing PPC
regular or irregular verbs PPS
We use it to express:
how many times an action happens? PPS
the completion and result of an action? PPS
the process and duration of an action? PPC
an action that is incomplete or has finished recently? PPC
Choose the correct alternative.
1 Have you switched/been switching the TV off?
2 We’ve been here for/since two hours.
3 My feet ache. I’ve stood/been standing here for ages.
4 I love this film! I’ve seen/been seeing it six times.
5 This is my American friend. She’s stayed/been staying in my house, but she’s leaving
tomorrow.
6 My eyes are tired. I’ve read/been reading without the light on.
7 That’s it! I’ve finished/been finishing my work.
Choose the correct alternative. Answers
1 Have you switched/been switching the TV off?
2 We’ve been here for/since two hours.
3 My feet ache. I’ve stood/been standing here for ages.
4 I love this film! I’ve seen/been seeing it six times.
5 This is my American friend. She’s stayed/been staying in my house, but she’s
leaving tomorrow.
6 My eyes are tired. I’ve read/been reading without the light on.
7 That’s it! I’ve finished/been finishing my work.
Practice makes perfect!
Spot the mistakes and correct them. Some sentences might be correct. Write
1 She’s been failing six exams.
2 I’ve lived here for 2012.
3 We’ve been to that city many times.
4 I’ve done this assignment for two weeks, but I haven’t finished yet.
5 My friend has been having an accident.
6 That artist has been painting more than a hundred paintings.
7 They’ve been revising for that exam since five hours.
8 Oh no! My keys and my wallet! I lost them.
9 I haven’t been doing this exercise yet.
10 I’ve been waiting here for a bus for 20 minutes.
Practice makes perfect! Answers
Spot the mistakes and correct them. Some sentences might be correct. Write
1 She’s failed six exams.
2 I’ve lived/been living here since 2012.
3 We’ve been to that city many times. - correct
4 I’ve been doing this assignment for two weeks, but I haven’t finished yet.
5 My friend has had an accident.
6 That artist has painted more than a hundred paintings.
7 They’ve been revising for that exam for five hours.
8 Oh no! My keys and my wallet! I’ve lost them.
9 I haven’t done this exercise yet.
10 I’ve been waiting here for a bus for 20 minutes. – correct
Class survey
Complete the questions with the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous.
1 How long have you …?
2 How long have you been …?
3 Have you ever …?
4 How many times have you …?
5 What have you been …?
6 Have you just …?
SPEAKING Interview your partner with the completed questions. Tell the class one interesting thing
you found out about your partner.
