Present Perfect Continuous
The Present Perfect Continuous (have/has + been + verb-ing) expresses an action that started in the past and is still continuing — or has just stopped with visible results. I have been working here for five years emphasises duration; She’s tired — she’s been running explains a present result. The critical contrast with the Present Perfect Simple is one of focus: continuous emphasises duration and activity (I have been writing emails all morning); simple emphasises completion and quantity (I have written seven emails). And as ever, state verbs (know, like, want, need, believe, understand, own, mean) don’t take the continuous form.
This worksheet drills the B1–B2 distinction between Present Perfect Continuous and Present Perfect Simple, with focus on for/since and the duration/quantity contrast.
Worksheet preview
What’s inside:
- Grammar Box with form, both main uses (ongoing action; recent action with results), and the duration/quantity contrast
- Gap-fill (8 items): complete each sentence with the present perfect continuous, including not and question forms
- How long…? personalised production: answer questions about your own life using for or since
- Continuous or simple? multiple-choice items forcing the duration-vs-quantity decision
- Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes on state verbs and the recent-stopped-with-results use
Common mistakes addressed: continuous form with state verbs (I have been knowing him for years), for/since mix-ups (for last year), and using the continuous where quantity is the focus (I have been writing five emails instead of I have written five emails).
For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B1–B2, in intermediate and upper-intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. The duration/quantity contrast is a recurring target in Cambridge B2 First (FCE) Reading-Use of English. Part of the Perfect Tenses collection — the natural next step is Past Perfect Continuous, which extends the same logic into past-time narrative.
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