Level 3 chapter 9 Unit 3 - Present Perfect vs Present perfect progresive

Grammar and examples

Present perfect progressive:
Use HAS BEEN verb + ING for events that started in the past and the action is continuing now.

Examples: John HAS BEEN READING since dinner.
The children HAVE BEEN PLAYING for hours.

Notice that HAS BEEN verb + ING is often used with FOR and SINCE.

Present perfect
Use HAS + past participle for finished events when the time is not finished.

Examples: John HAS READ three books this week.
(He has finished reading each book. This week is not finished.)
I HAVEN'T SEEN that movie yet.
Mr. Newman HAS already SIGNED the contract.

Notice that HAS + past participle is often used with YET, ALREADY, EVER, NEVER, etc.

The present perfect is often associated with number:
John has drunk three whiskies.
He has phoned three clients.

The Present perfect progressive is often associated with (unfinished) time:
John has been drinking all afternoon.
He has been phoning clients since 8 o'clock this morning.

The boss _____ 5 applicants so far.
1. has been interviewing
2. has interviewed
The boss _____ for three hours now.
1. has been interviewing
2. has interviewed
I'm sorry I'm late. How long have you _____?
1. been waiting
2. waited
I've _____ for you every day this week.
1. been waiting
2. waited
Have you _____ Claudine out yet?
1. asked
2. been asking
I've often _____ her out, but she won't come.
1. been asking
2. asked
Have you _____ your autobiography for very long?
1. been writing
2. written
How many novels has your favorite author _____?
1. written
2. been writing
The ground is much too dry. It hasn't _____ for ages.
1. been raining
2. rained
ABC Builders has _____ homes in this town for years.
1. been building
2. built
ABC Builders has _____ several new homes this year.
1. been building
2. built
Alpha Corporation has _____ robots since 1982.
1. been producing
2. produced
Alpha has _____ twice as many robots this year as last.
1. been producing
2. produced
Mr. Newman has _____ several large sales this month.
1. been making
2. made
The board has _____ the offer since 8 o'clock.
1. been discussing
2. discussed
The board has already _____ the sales figures.
1. been discussing
2. discussed
I've _____ a lot of trouble with my car lately.
1. been having
2. had
I haven't _____ a bit of trouble since last week.
1. been having
2. had
The repairman has _____ on the air conditioner since noon.
1. been working
2. worked
He's _____ exercises for the past 30 minutes.
1. been doing
2. done
He's _____ exercises every day so far this week.
1. been doing
2. done
It's _____ since Monday. When is it going to stop?
1. been raining
2. rained
It hasn't _____ in Texas at all this year.
1. been snowing
2. snowed
Where have you been? I haven't _____ you much lately.
1. been seeing
2. seen
Tom's _____ that book all evening
1. been reading
2. read
Tom's _____ ten books so far this month.
1. been reading
2. read
That's the most interesting movie I've _____ in a long time.
1. been seeing
2. seen
We've _____ the air conditioner since this morning.
1. been running
2. run
Has the mechanic _____ your car yet?
1. been repairing
2. repaired