Present Perfect Continuous · Exercises

B2Upper intermediate practice

Simple vs. continuous and “Who’s been using my laptop?”.

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What you’ll practise at B2

Negatives: haven’t / hasn’t been
Questions: Have you been…?
Short answers: Yes, I have (not Yes, I’ve)
What have you been doing? (wh- questions)
for / since and How long…?
Visible results: You’re out of breath — have you been running?
Repeated actions and recent habits (lately)
Simple or continuous? (have done / have been doing)
State verbs: I’ve known him for years
Who’s been using my laptop?
Timelines: what the tense means

Need a refresher? Learn the present perfect continuous: rules, tables and audio examples.

Sample exercises

A taste of what’s inside. In practice mode every exercise is freshly generated.

Which sentence matches the timeline?
(Timeline: Going on from the past up to now)
I have read a book about Japan. · I am reading a book about Japan. · I read a book about Japan. · I have been reading a book about Japan.
Show answer
I have been reading a book about Japan.
“have been reading” is the present perfect continuous (have / has been + -ing): going on from the past up to now.
Read the reply and choose the right short answer (present perfect continuous).
Has the woman upstairs been playing video games? — _____ She’s been out in the garden.
Yes, she's. · Yes, she has. · No, she isn't. · No, she hasn't.
Show answer
Has the woman upstairs been playing video games? — No, she hasn't. She’s been out in the garden.
The reply shows the answer is “no”. Short answers repeat have / has: Yes, I have. / No, she hasn’t. Don’t contract positive short answers (not “Yes, I’ve” or “Yes, she’s”): have / has is stressed at the end, so it needs its full form.
Is this sentence correct?
We hasn't been tidying the garage.
Correct · Has a mistake
Show answer
We haven't been tidying the garage.
“hasn't” should be “haven't”. Negative: haven't been + -ing. We haven't been tidying the garage.
Is this sentence correct?
They hasn't been volunteering at an animal shelter.
Correct · Has a mistake
Show answer
They haven't been volunteering at an animal shelter.
“hasn't” should be “haven't”. Negative: haven't been + -ing. They haven't been volunteering at an animal shelter.
Put the words in order to make a question.
for / job / a / been / Raj / has / looking
Show answer
Has Raj been looking for a job?
Questions: Have / Has + subject + been + -ing? Has Raj been looking for a job?
Which sentence matches the timeline?
(Timeline: Going on from the past up to now)
My sister has watched a film. · My sister is watching a film. · My sister has been watching a film. · My sister watches a film.
Show answer
My sister has been watching a film.
“has been watching” is the present perfect continuous (have / has been + -ing): going on from the past up to now.

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What you’ll practise at B2

Sample exercises