Present Perfect Simple / Present Perfect Progressive

Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In
many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect
Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result. We use the Present Perfect
Progressive to emphasise the duration or continuous course of an action.

Result or duration?

Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive

Result (what / how much / how often)
Duration (how long)
I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London
I have been writing for an hour.
twice.

Emphasis on completion or duration?

Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent his
time)?

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive

Emphasis on duration
Emphasis on completion
I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's
I have done my homework. (Meaning: My
how I have spent my time. It does not matter
homework is completed now.)
whether the homework is completed now.)

Result or side effect?

Do you want to express that a completed action led to a desired result or that the action had an unwanted side
effect?

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive

unwanted side effect
desired result
Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car.
I have washed the car. (Result: The car is clean (side effect: I became wet when I was washing the
now.) car. It does not matter whether the car is clean
now.)
Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive).

1. A: (you / take) the dog for a walk yet?

2. B: I (work) all day. I (come / just) home from work and I (have / not)
the time yet to walk the dog.

3. A: How long (the dog / be) home alone?

4. B: For about 6 hours. You (walk / not) the dog for a long time. Don't you want to go?

5. A: Well, I (laze / not) about all day either, you know. I have a very important meeting

tomorrow and I still (finish / not) my presentation.

6. B: Okay, I will go then. Where (you / put) collar and leash?

7. A: They are in the kitchen. By the way, (you / eat) anything yet? If not, could you get us
something from the supermarket?

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive).

1. A: I (call) for you for half an hour. Where (be) ? And why are your clothes so
dirty?

2. B: I (tidy) up the shed in the garden.

3. A: (you / find) a box with old photos there? I (look) for it for ages.

4. B: I (discover / not) it yet, but I (work / not) for a long time yet. I (come / just)

in to eat something.

5. A: I (cook / not) anything yet because I (talk) to our neighbour.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive).

1. A: Have you taken the dog for a walk yet?

2. B: I have been working all day. I have just come home from work and I have not had the time yet to
walk the dog.
3. A: How long has the dog been home alone?
4. B: For about 6 hours. You have not walked the dog for a long time. Don't you want to go?
 5. A: Well, I have not been lazing about all day either, you know. I have a very important meeting
tomorrow and I still have not finished my presentation.
6. B: Okay, I will go then. Where have you put collar and leash?
7. A: They are in the kitchen. By the way, have you eaten anything yet? If not, could you get us
something from the supermarket?

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive).

1. A: I have been calling for you for half an hour. Where have you been ? And why are your clothes so
dirty?
2. B: I have been tidying up the shed in the garden.
3. A: Have you found a box with old photos there? I have been looking for it for ages.
4. B: I have not discovered it yet, but I have not been working for a long time yet. I have just come in
to eat something.
5. A: I have not cooked anything yet because I have been talking to our neighbour.

Text
Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive).

1. Tom: Hi Ana. I have tried to ring you several times today. Where have you been ?
2. Ana: I have been at home all the time. But I have been cleaning the house all day, so maybe I didn't
hear the phone ring.
3. Tom: Have you cleaned everything now?
4. Ana: No, not yet. I have not tidied up the kitchen yet. But why are you here?
5. Tom: Don't you remember? Jane has invited us to her birthday party and we have not bought a
present for her yet.
6. Ana: Oh, that's right. Have you already found out what she wants?
7. Tom: Well, she has been learning Spanish for a year and wants to spend her next holiday in Mexico.
Maybe we could get her a guide book.
8. Ana: That's a good idea. There is a good bookshop in the big shopping centre. I have seen some nice
books about Mexico there recently.

Text
Fill in the correct form (Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Progressive).

1. Daughter: Mum, Jane has just phoned to ask if I will go to the cinema with her. May I?
2. Mother: Have you done your homework yet?
3. Daughter: Well, I have been doing it for about 2 hours now, but I have not finished it yet.
4. Mother: If you have not completed your homework, you cannot go. School comes first. Remember,
you have promised me to study harder this year.
5. Daughter: But mum, I have been working really hard this year and I have already improved in Maths
and Chemistry.
6. Mother: But that's only because I have always pushed you to do something.
7. Daughter: But I also need a break some time. Look, I have not been to the cinema for two months.
May I go? Just this once.