Exercises on the present perfect continuous tense from basic to advanced level

Summary of the theory of the present perfect continuous tense

Concept

Thì hiện tại hoàn thành tiếp diễn diễn tả hành động bắt đầu trong quá khứ kéo dài đến hiện tại và có thể đến tương lai.

Structure

Usage

Describing activities or events that have recently ended in the past

Thì hiện tại hoàn thành tiếp diễn để nói về một hành động đã kết thúc gần đây trong quá khứ nhằm nhấn mạnh hành động, sự việc đó.

Ví dụ:

• It has been raining. (The ground is wet)

• Dịch: trời vừa mới mưa. (Mặt đất đang ướt)

Describing activities or events that are still ongoing

Thì hiện tại hoàn thành tiếp diễn để mô tả một hành động, sự việc diễn ra ở một thời điểm trong quá khứ, và vẫn tiếp tục diễn ra ở hiện tại, có thể còn diễn ra ở tương lai.

Ví dụ:

She has been playing video games since 4pm. (She is still playing videos games now)

Dịch: Cô ấy đã chơi games từ lúc 4 giờ chiều. (Cô ấy vẫn đang chơi game ngay bây giờ)

She has been a teacher since 2000. (She is still a teacher now)

Dịch: Cô ấy đã là một giáo viên từ năm 2000. ( Cô ấy vẫn đang là giáo viên bây giờ)

How long? Structure

Thì hiện tại hoàn thành tiếp diễn thường được sử dụng trong cấu trúc “How long…? (bao lâu)’’ để diễn tả thời gian sự việc, sự vật diễn ra.

Ví dụ:

How long have you been waiting for me?

Dịch: Bạn đã chờ tôi bao lâu rồi

Signs of recognition

Since (từ khi) + một mốc/điểm thời gian

Ví dụ: I have been doing my homework since my mother came home ( Tôi đã làm bài tập từ khi mẹ tôi về nhà)

For (trong khoảng) + một khoảng thời gian

Ví dụ: I have been doing my homework for 2 hours. (Tôi đã làm bài tập trong khoảng 2 tiếng)

All + khoảng thời gian

Ví dụ: She has been sleeping all day. (Cô ấy đã ngủ cả ngày)

Bên cạnh đó, còn có thể nhận biết bằng các động từ chỉ hành động kéo dài như : run (chạy), sleep (ngủ), play (chơi), swim (bơi),.. với các từ, cụm từ như: recently  (gần đây), lately (mới đây), up till not ( cho tới bây giờ), still (vẫn),..

Exercises on the present perfect continuous tense

Exercise 1: Conjugate the verbs in the correct form

1. I (study) French since high school.

2. She (work) for the company for three years.

3. Recently, I (feel) tired all the time.

4. Lately, he (get) into photography as a hobby.

5. Up till now, I (study) English for 2 years.

6. She (watch) TV since I came.

7. Have you (finish) your homework yet?

8. He (live) in London since 2010.

9. We (save) money for a trip to Europe up till now.

10. We (wait) for ages

11. How long (you\ live) in France?

12. (Tom / learn) Mathematics for 5 years.

13. Hi, Tom. (I / look) for you. Your sister is crying.

14. Why (you / look) at me like that? Stop it!

15. I am a teacher. (I / teach) for ten years.

16. (I / think) about what you said and I’ve decided to take

17. your advice.

18. ‘Is Huong on holiday this week?’ ‘No, (she / work).’

19. I am very tired. (I/ work) very hard recently.

20. It’s dangerous to use your phone when (you / drive).

21. I (sleep) for 10 hours

Exercise 2 - Complete the sentences with the given prompts

1. I \ work \ this Project \ three days.

2. She \ study  \ her exams \  all week.

3. They \ practice \ new dance routine \ hours.

4. We \ wait \  the bus \  20 minutes.

5. He \run \  day\  prepare \ the marathon.

6. The kids \ play outside \ afternoon.

7. She \ try \ reach \  her \ friend \  hours.

8. They \ renovate \  their \  house\  months.

9. He \ learn \ how \ cook \ new \ dishes \  weeks.

10. We \ save up \ a \ vacation \ a year.

11. I \ study \ for \ my exams \ week, but \  I  \ feel \  unprepared.

12. She \ practice \ her \ dance \ routine \ hours, \  hope \  impress \ the judges.

13. They \  renovate \  their \  house \ months, \  and \  it's \  finally  \  start\  come \ together.

14. We  \  search  \ the \  perfect \  vacation \  spot,  \  but \ we \ found \  anything \  yet.

15. He \ work \ his \ novel \  years, \ and \ he \ finally \ close \  finish\  it.

16. She \ train \ the \  marathon \  months, \ and \  she \ feel \  confident \  she \ can \ finish \.

17. \ you \  study \  for \  your \  exams \  week \ ?

18. How long \ you \ work \ your \  new \ project \ ?

19. \ she \ learn \  play \  guitar \ a  \ while \ now \ ?

20. What\ you \ do \ stay \ busy \  your \  time \ off \ ?

Exercise 3: Complete the following sentences using the present perfect continuous tense

1. I ……………………………………………. all week, but I still don't feel confident.

2. She ……………………………………………. for months, so she's feeling stronger every day.

3. They ……………………………………………. their house for weeks, it's almost finished up till now.

4. We ……………………………………………. for weeks, and we're finally seeing progress.

5. Although he ……………………………………………. for months, he hasn't found anything yet.

6. She ……………………………………………. for months, and she's starting to feel more comfortable.

7. Though ……………………………………………. for years, it's been a struggle.

8. They ……………………………………………. for months, and they've seen so many amazing sights.

9. He …………………………………………….  for a year, so he is becoming quite good.

10. She ……………………………………………. for months because her mother loves them very

11. I ……………………………………………. for months, I'm starting to see results now

12. They ……………………………………………. for months, so they're finally able to go.

13. He ……………………………………………. for years, and he is finally making progress now.

14. She ……………………………………………. for months because of her stress of work.

15. I ……………………………………………. for months to get published on time.

16. They ……………………………………………. for months, and they're making a difference.

17. Even though he ……………………………………………. for years, he's finally able to hold a conversation.

18. She ……………………………………………. for months, and it's looking beautiful.

19. I ……………………………………………. for months, but I have not been able to take great pictures until now.

20. They ……………………………………………. for months, and they've raised a lot of money.

Exercise 4: Choose the most suitable answer

1. I ……………… in God since I was a child

A)     have been believing

B)     belive

C)     believes

D)     believed

1. She …………………….  all day because she will have a meeting next week

A)     works

B)     is working

C)     has been working

D)     worked

1. Tom ………………….. anything since he came home

A)     have not eating

B)     eats

C)     ate

D)     eaten

1. I …………………….. my homework because it is very hard

A)     have been doing

B)      do

C)     am doing

D)     did

1. How long …….. you ……… this house?

A)     have  been / building

B)     are / building

C)     do / build

D)     have / been building

1. Amy is writing emails. She ……………….. all morning.

A)     has been writing

B)     has written

C)     writes

D)     wrote

1. The street is wet because it ………. for an hour

A)     has been raining

B)     rained

C)     rains

D)     rain

1. I am very exhausted because I …………… all night

A)     has been working

B)     have been working

C)     worked

D)     works

1. The scientist ……………………. cures for ages

A)     have been researched

B)     researched

C)     have been researching

D)     research

1. I love China so I …………. Chinese for 2 years

A)     have studied

B)     have been studying

C)     study

D)     am studying

1. I ………………………..since my mother left home

A)     sleep

B)     have been sleeping

C)     am sleeping

D)     slept

1. Tom ………………….. all day to prepare for the national competition.

A)     swims

B)     has been swimming

C)     is swimming

D)     swam

1. She ………………………. the same jobs for 10 years

A)     has been doing

B)     does

C)     did

D)     had done

1. How long ………….. you …………… driving?

A)     have \ been driving

B)     are \ driving

C)     did \ drive

D)     do \ drive

1. Where……………. you …………………….. at this moment?

A) did \ do

B) are \ been

C) have \ been

D) had \ been

1. Who ………………….. you …………………. most of your time with recently?

A) are \ spending

B) do \ spend

C) have \ been spending

D) had \ spent

Exercise 5: Answer the following questions using the present continuous tense

1. What have you been doing lately?

2. Where have they been at this moment?

3. What have you been looking forward to in the coming days?

4. What tasks have you been working on recently?

5. I have just been watching a movie. What about you?

6. How long have you been studying English?

7. What has your sister been working on recently?

8. How many books have you been reading this month?

9. What have you been cooking for dinner lately?

10. How long have you been living in this city?

11. What kind of exercises have you been doing to stay in shape?

12. Who have you been spending most of your time with recently?

13. What topics have you been studying in school?

14. How much progress have you been making with your work recently?

15. What kind of music have you been listening to lately?

16. What kind of goals have you been working on lately?

17. How long have you been learning to play the guitar?

18. What new skills have you been developing recently?

19. How many movies have you been watching lately?

20. What kind of challenges have you been facing at work lately?

Answers

Exercise 1

1. I have been studying French since high school.

2. She has been working for the company for three years.

3. Recently, I have been feeling tired all the time.

4. Lately, he has been getting into photography as a hobby.

5. Up till now, I have been studying English for 2 years.

6. She has been watching TV since I came.

7. Have you finished your homework yet?

8. He has been living in London since 2010.

9. We have been saving money for a trip to Europe up till now.

10. We have been waiting for ages

11. How long have you been living in France?

12. Tom has been learning Mathematics for 5 years.

13. Hi, Tom. I have been looking for you. Your sister is crying.

14. Why have you been looking at me like that? Stop it!

15. I am a teacher. I have been teaching for ten years.

16. I have been thinking about what you said and I’ve decided to take your advice.

17. ‘Is Huong on holiday this week?’ ‘No, she has been working.’

18. I am very tired. I have been working very hard recently.

19. It’s dangerous to use your phone when you are driving.

20. I have been sleeping for 10 hours.

Exercise 2

1. I have been working on this project for three days.

2. She has been studying for her exams all week.

3. They have been practicing the new dance routine for hours.

4. We have been waiting for the bus for 20 minutes.

5. He has been running every day to prepare for the marathon.

6. The kids have been playing outside all afternoon.

7. She has been trying to reach her friend for hours.

8. They have been renovating their house for months.

9. He has been learning how to cook new dishes for weeks.

10. We have been saving up for a vacation for a year.

11. I have been studying for my exams all week, but I still feel unprepared.

12. She has been practicing her dance routine for hours, hoping to impress the judges.

13. They have been renovating their house for months, and it's finally starting to come together.

14. We have been searching for the perfect vacation spot, but we haven't found anything yet.

15. He has been working on his novel for years, and he's finally close to finishing it.

16. She has been training for the marathon for months, and she feels confident she can finish it.

17. Have you been studying for your exams all week?

18. How long have you been working on your new project?

19. Has she been learning to play the guitar for a while now?

20. What have you been doing to stay busy during your time off?

Exercise 3

1. I've dedicated this entire week to studying for my exams, yet I'm still lacking confidence.

2. For months, she's been diligently preparing for the marathon, gradually feeling her strength increase.

3. Weeks have been consumed with renovating their house, and now they're on the brink of completion.

4. We've invested weeks into the project, finally witnessing tangible progress.

5. Despite months of job hunting, he's yet to secure a new position.

6. Months of English conversation practice have led to her feeling more at ease.

7. My attempts to quit smoking have spanned years, proving to be a persistent challenge.

8. Months of globetrotting have afforded them incredible experiences.

9. His dedication to guitar lessons over a year has resulted in considerable skill.

10. Driven by her mother's love for Thai cuisine, she's been mastering cooking techniques for months.

11. Months of fitness endeavors are finally paying off with visible results.

12. After months of saving, they can finally embark on their trip.

13. Years of effort to improve his golf swing are finally bearing fruit.

14. Meditation has become her refuge from work-related stress over the past few months.

15. Months of honing my writing skills are crucial for meeting deadlines.

16. Their dedication to volunteering at the animal shelter for months is making a significant impact.

17. Despite years of studying French, he's now proficient enough for conversations.

18. Months spent renovating her garden have resulted in its enchanting beauty.

19. Months of photography practice have led to an improvement in skills, albeit not without challenges.

20. Months of fundraising for their charity have yielded substantial donations.

Exercise 4

1. A

2. C

3. A

4. A

5. D

6. A

7. A

8. B

9. C

10. B

11. B

12. B

13. B

14. A

15. C

16. C

Exercise 5

1. I've been engrossed in a company project.

2. For the past month, they've been traversing Europe.

3. I eagerly anticipate my upcoming vacation.

4. I've been diligently tackling various job-related tasks.

5. Lately, I've been simply relaxing at home.

6. For about two years, I've been immersed in English studies.

7. My sister's been immersed in a new art project recently.

8. This month, I've been delving into two books.

9. I've been experimenting with different dinner recipes.

10. I've called this city home for five years.

11. To stay fit, I've been practicing yoga and cardio exercises.

12. Lately, I've been devoting most of my time to family.

13. I've been studying math and science diligently in school.

14. Recent efforts at work have led to significant progress.

15. Lately, I've been immersing myself in indie rock and pop music.

16. I've been working on enhancing my time-management skills.

17. For a few months now, I've been learning to play the guitar.

18. I've been broadening my programming skills by learning new languages.

19. In the past week, I've watched three movies.

20. Lately, I've encountered communication challenges with colleagues.

Summary