Master the Difference: Present Perfect vs. Continuous Worksheets

Have you ever said “I’ve lived here for ten years” or “I’ve been living here for ten years” and wondered what the difference is? Both are correct—but they don’t mean exactly the same thing! The Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous tenses are both used to talk about actions connected to the present, but they each show time in a slightly different way. In this set of Present Perfect & Present Perfect Continuous worksheets, you’ll practice telling the difference between results and ongoing actions, finished experiences and still-happening situations. These exercises will help you use both tenses naturally and clearly in real-life conversations.

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Answer key:

1. Lily has been painting her bedroom all afternoon.
2. I haven’t been eating much lately.
3. We have known each other since kindergarten.
4. Tom has been fixing his bike for two hours.
5. How long have you been working here?
6. He has been taking the same bus for years.
7. They have been making progress on the project.
8. Sarah has lived in New York for six years. (Both present perfect & continuous are okay, but “has lived” emphasizes result.)
9. What have they been doing all morning?
10. The kids have been building a sandcastle for hours.

2. Complete the sentences with the correct form:

1. My parents have been traveling across Europe for three weeks.
2. We have been waiting for the train since 9 a.m.
3. Sam has not finished his lunch yet.
4. I have been reading a really good book lately.
5. How long have you been living in this apartment?
6. Mia has been taking piano lessons for five years.
7. I haven’t seen you at the gym recently.

3. Put the words in order:

1. How long have you been cooking?
2. I have never visited Japan.
3. Tom has been studying for hours.
4. We have been friends since school.
5. It has been raining for three days.

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Answer key:

1. has been working
2. have lost
3. have you been studying
4. have written
5. has been playing
6. have been
7. have been trying

Download Present Perfect & Present Perfect Continuous Worksheets PDF

Present Perfect & Present Perfect Continuous Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

Direction: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses: use either the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense.

1. She __________ (live) in New York since 2015.
2. I __________ (not finish) my homework yet.
3. They __________ (study) for the exam all morning.
4. He __________ (visit) Paris several times.
5. We __________ (wait) for the bus for over an hour.
6. I __________ (know) her since we were kids.
7. You __________ (watch) too much TV lately.
8. He __________ (work) on that project for three weeks.
9. The kids __________ (eat) all the cookies.
10. We __________ (look) for a new apartment for months.

Answer Key

Exercise 2: Correct the Mistake

Direction: Each sentence below contains a mistake in the present perfect or present perfect continuous tense. Find and correct the mistake.

1. She has living in Tokyo since last year.
2. I have ate breakfast already.
3. They has been working on the report since Monday.
4. We have been know each other for a long time.
5. He have finished his homework.
6. The children has been playing outside all afternoon.
7. You have watch that movie three times.
8. He have been listening to the same song for an hour.
9. I has never been to Spain.
10. We has been learning English for two years.

Answer Key