Present Perfect Continuous Tense Vs Present Perfect Tense - Easy usages, examples and Practices

 

Usages

Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used to talk about:
1.An action that happened and is still happening now and up into the future
2.An action that recently finished with the result in the present
2. Temporary action

Forms

Positive : Sub + have/has + been + Ving........

Negative : Sub + haven't/hasn't + been + Ving....

Yes/NO : Have/has + sub + been + Ving...........?

Wh-Question : Wh-word + have/has + sub + been + Ving.....?

Usage 1 : Past action that is still happening now

•  I have been waiting for 3 hours. ( I started waiting in the past and now I am still waiting)
• She has been living in Cambodia for 2 years.
• They have been playing soccer for an hour.
• Have you been waiting for her for 3 hours?
• Has she been living in Cambodian since 2024?

Usage 2 : Very recent action that shows the result in the present.

• The kids are still wet because they have been swimming.
• The floor is still wet because the janitor has been cleaning it.
• They are very tired and sweating because they have been playing soccer.
• The ground is very wet because it has been raining.

Usage 3: Temporary Actions

• I have been doing exercise recently.
• She usually drives to work but she has been riding her motorbike this week.
• They have been practicing soccer a lot this month.
• He has been feeling stressed recently. 

Present Perfect Tense 

Forms

Positive : Sub + have/has + V3.....

Negative : Sub + haven't/hasn't + V3.....

Yes/No : Have/has + sub + V3....?

Wh-Question : Wh-word + have/has + (sub) + V3.....?

Completed action showing the result int he present.

- She has done her homework.

- They have submitted their assignment already.

- I have had a cup of coffee.

Past action continues to the present

- I have worked here for 2 years.

- She has been my friends since elementary school.

- ROZA has been sick since Monday last week.

Life experience

- I have flown in an airplane once.

- She has tried Khmer food a few times.

- They have visited Ankor Wat once. 

Easy Comparison 

• I have painted a picture. ( I finished it)
• I have been painting a picture. ( I am still doing it.)

Note

- I have studied English for two years.

- I have been studying English for two years. 

Both sentences are correct but the second one is more common since present present perfect continuous tense focuses on the action or an activity.

Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets using either the Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous.

1. She __________ three books this month. (read)
2. They __________ soccer for two hours. (play)
3. I __________ my homework already. (finish)
4. We __________ for the bus since 8 o'clock. (wait)
5. He looks tired because he __________ all morning. (work)
6. My parents __________ to Thailand several times. (travel)
7. It __________ all day. (rain)
8. I __________ this movie before. (see)
9. The children __________ in the garden since lunch. (play)
10. She __________ the report, so she can relax now. (complete)
11. We __________ English for five years. (study)
12. Tom __________ his keys and can't find them. (lose)
13. They __________ the house since early morning. (clean)
14. I __________ never __________ sushi before. (eat)
15. The dog is wet because it __________ in the river. (swim)
16. She __________ ten emails today. (write)
17. How long __________ you __________ for this company? (work)
18. The students __________ the same project for weeks. (do)
19. He __________ all the milk. (drink)
20. Why are your hands dirty? __________ you __________ in the garden? (work)

    Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous