Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous
Finished Result or Ongoing Activity
Grammar Practice
We use the Present Perfect Simple to focus on a finished result, completion, or the question "how many / how much."
We use the Present Perfect Continuous to focus on the activity itself, the duration, or the question "how long."
Note: In many situations, it is possible to use both forms with little to no change in meaning (e.g., "I have lived here for years" vs. "I have been living here for years"). The choice often depends on whether you want to emphasize the state or the ongoing process.
Examples:
I have finished my homework. [Result: It is done now.]
I have been doing my homework for two hours. [Duration: Focus on the time spent.]
26. I ______ for this company for ten years. (focus: action/duration)
have been working
a) have worked
b) have been working
[Ich arbeite seit zehn Jahren für diese Firma.]
27. I ______ my work for today. (focus: result/completion)
have finished
a) have finished
b) have been finishing
[Ich habe meine Arbeit für heute beendet.]
28. They ______ through Europe for a month. (focus: action/duration)
have been traveling
a) have traveled
b) have been traveling
[Sie reisen seit einem Monat durch Europa.]
29. They ______ five different countries so far. (focus: result/quantity)
have visited
a) have visited
b) have been visiting
[Sie haben bisher fünf verschiedene Länder besucht.]
30. He ______ for you since 5 o'clock. (focus: action/duration)
has been waiting
a) has waited
b) has been waiting
[Er wartet seit 5 Uhr auf dich.]
31. The train ______ at the station. (focus: result/completion)
has arrived
a) has arrived
b) has been arriving
[Der Zug ist am Bahnhof angekommen.]
32. She ______ three cups of coffee this morning. (focus: result/quantity)
has drunk
a) has drunk
b) has been drinking
[Sie hat heute Morgen drei Tassen Kaffee getrunken.]
33. She ______ coffee all day. (focus: action/duration)
has been drinking
a) has drunk
b) has been drinking
[Sie trinkt schon den ganzen Tag Kaffee.]
34. We ______ tennis for two hours. (focus: action/duration)
have been playing
a) have played
b) have been playing
[Wir spielen seit zwei Stunden Tennis.]
35. We ______ the game. (focus: result/completion)
have won
a) have won
b) have been winning
[Wir haben das Spiel gewonnen.]
36. It ______ since last night. (focus: action/duration)
has been snowing
a) has snowed
b) has been snowing
[Es schneit seit gestern Nacht.]
37. It ______ snowing. (focus: result/change of state)
has stopped
a) has stopped
b) has been stopping
[Es hat aufgehört zu schneien.]
38. You ______ TV for far too long. (focus: action/duration)
have been watching
a) have watched
b) have been watching
[Du schaust schon viel zu lange fern.]
39. I ______ that movie twice. (focus: result/experience)
have watched
a) have watched
b) have been watching
[Ich habe diesen Film zweimal gesehen.]
40. The chef ______ 50 meals today. (focus: result/quantity)
has prepared
a) has prepared
b) has been preparing
[Der Koch hat heute 50 Mahlzeiten zubereitet.]
41. The chef ______ in the kitchen all evening. (focus: action/duration)
has been preparing
a) has prepared
b) has been preparing
[Der Koch bereitet schon den ganzen Abend in der Küche vor.]
42. I ______ for my keys for ages. (focus: action/duration)
have been looking
a) have looked
b) have been looking
[Ich suche seit Ewigkeiten nach meinen Schlüsseln.]
43. Look! I ______ my keys! (focus: result/completion)
have found
a) have found
b) have been finding
[Schau mal! Ich habe meine Schlüssel gefunden!]
44. They ______ about the problem for hours. (focus: action/duration)
have been talking
a) have talked
b) have been talking
[Sie sprechen seit Stunden über das Problem.]
45. They ______ a decision. (focus: result/completion)
have made
a) have made
b) have been making
[Sie haben eine Entscheidung getroffen.]
46. He ______ in the garden since lunch. (focus: action/duration)
has been digging
a) has dug
b) has been digging
[Er gräbt seit dem Mittagessen im Garten.]
47. He ______ a big hole. (focus: result)
has dug
a) has dug
b) has been digging
[Er hat ein großes Loch gegraben.]
48. We ______ the house all week. (focus: action/duration)
have been tidying
a) have tidied
b) have been tidying
[Wir räumen schon die ganze Woche das Haus auf.]
49. We ______ the living room. (focus: result/completion)
have tidied
a) have tidied
b) have been tidying
[Wir haben das Wohnzimmer aufgeräumt.]
50. I ______ to the gym three times this week. (focus: result/quantity)
have been
a) have been
b) have been being
[Ich war diese Woche dreimal im Fitnessstudio.]