Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 10 · B1

Present perfect continuous and simple (I have been doing and I have done)

Use have been doing when the activity itself is the point, finished or not, and for how long; use have done when the result is the point, and for how much, how many or how many times.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 29 minutes

In this lesson

The activity or the resultA1 screen of questions
More pairsB1 screen of questions
How long, or how much and how manyC2 screens of questions
Verbs that are not normally continuousD1 screen of questions
Put it together+4 screens of mixed questions

Point A of 4

The activity or the result

Two situations.

Dan has paint in his hair and on his elbows. He has been painting the hall. We are thinking of the activity. Whether he has finished is beside the point; quite possibly he has not, given the state of his hair.

The hall was magnolia. Now it is dark green. Dan has painted the hall. The job is done, and we are thinking of the result, the green hall, not the work that went into it.

Form Name We are thinking of
has been painting present perfect continuous the activity, finished or not
has painted present perfect simple the result of a completed action
  • Dan's been painting the hall. He's got paint in his hair.
  • Dan's painted the hall. It's dark green now.

Point A · Exercise 10.1

Read the situation and complete both sentences, using the verb in brackets.

  1. Example

    Sophie started a jigsaw three hours ago. She is still doing it, and she has put in 400 pieces.

    She has been doing the jigsaw for three hours. (do) She has put in 400 pieces so far. (put in)

    AnswerShe has been doing the jigsaw for three hours. She has put in 400 pieces so far.

  2. Mo is cycling from Land's End to John o' Groats. He set off ten days ago.

    He for ten days. (cycle) He about six hundred miles so far. (ride)

  3. Hannah is a darts player. She took up darts at the age of twelve. This year she won the county title, for the third time.

    She the county title three times. (win) She darts since she was twelve. (play)

  4. After school, Kieran and Lewis started a band. They are still in the band.

    They music together since they left school. (make) They two albums since they left school. (make)

Point B of 4

More pairs

In each pair, the continuous sentence is about the activity and the simple sentence is about a completed action and what it left behind.

  • My hands are filthy. I've been fixing the lawnmower.
  • The lawnmower works again now. I've fixed it.
  • Ellie has been eating a lot of crisps lately. She ought to cut down.
  • Somebody has eaten the last of the biscuits. The tin is empty.
  • Lovely to see you. What have you been doing since the summer?
  • Where's the charger I lent you? What have you done with it?
  • You're out of breath. Have you been running?
  • Have you ever run a marathon?

Point B · Extra practice

Put the verb in brackets into the present perfect continuous (the activity) or the present perfect simple (the result).

  1. My hands are filthy. I the bike. (fix)

  2. The bike works again now. I it. (fix)

  3. Somebody the last of the milk. The fridge is empty. (drink)

Point C of 4

How long, or how much and how many

Use the continuous to say how long, for something still in progress.

Use the simple to say how much, how many or how many times, for completed actions.

Continuous: how long Simple: how much, how many
How long have you been knitting that jumper? How many jumpers have you knitted?
Priya's been marking essays all afternoon. Priya has marked thirty essays this afternoon.
They've been playing darts since eight o'clock. They've played darts four times this week.
I'm learning Welsh, but I haven't been learning it for long. I'm learning Welsh, but I haven't learnt very much yet.
  • How long have you been knitting that jumper?
  • How many jumpers have you knitted?
  • Priya's been marking essays all afternoon.
  • Priya has marked thirty essays this afternoon.
  • I'm learning Welsh, but I haven't learnt very much yet.

Point C · Exercise 10.2 · part 1 of 2

Ask a question using the words in brackets. Use the present perfect simple (have done) or continuous (have been doing).

  1. Example

    A friend of yours is learning the cello.

    (how long / learn / the cello?)

    How long have you been learning the cello?

    AnswerHow long have you been learning the cello?

  2. You are late to meet a friend, who is sitting on a bench waiting for you.

    (wait / long?)

  3. You see somebody picking blackberries by the canal.

    (pick / many blackberries?)

  4. Some friends of yours are getting married in June.

    (how many people / invite?)

  5. A friend of yours drives a bus.

    (how long / drive / buses?)

Point C · Exercise 10.2 · part 2 of 2

Ask a question using the words in brackets. Use the present perfect simple (have done) or continuous (have been doing).

  1. You meet somebody who writes crime novels.

    (how many novels / write?)

  2. The same crime writer.

    (how long / write / novels?)

  3. A friend of yours is saving up for a camper van.

    (how long / save?)

  4. The same friend.

    (how much money / save?)

Point D of 4

Verbs that are not normally continuous

Some verbs, know among them, are not normally used in continuous forms. Use the simple instead, even when the meaning is how long. The list of these verbs is in Unit 4; for have, see Unit 17.

Want and mean are the exceptions: both are perfectly happy in the present perfect continuous.

  • I've known about the leak for weeks. (not I've been knowing)
  • How long have you had that van? (not have you been having)
  • I've been meaning to ring my aunt, but it keeps slipping my mind.
  • She's been wanting a dog for years.

Point D · Extra practice

Put the verb in brackets into the present perfect simple or continuous. Some of these verbs are not normally continuous.

  1. I Anna since we were at school. (know)

  2. How long you that car? (have)

  3. I to ring you all week, but I've been so busy. (mean)

Put it together · Exercise 10.3 · part 1 of 4

Put the verb into the present perfect simple (have done) or continuous (have been doing).

  1. Example

    Look at you! Have you been cycling (you / cycle)? Your face is bright red.

    AnswerLook at you! Have you been cycling? Your face is bright red.

  2. Look! (somebody / scratch) the side of my car.

  3. You look shattered. (you / work) late?

  4. " (you / ever / stay) in a youth hostel?" "Once, in 1998. Never again."

  5. Where's Gran? Where (she / go)?

Put it together · Exercise 10.3 · part 2 of 4

Put the verb into the present perfect simple (have done) or continuous (have been doing).

  1. This is my grandad's old watch. (I / have) it since he died.

  2. "Have you been busy?" "No, (I / watch) the snooker."

  3. My cousin is a stuntman. (he / appear) in several big films.

  4. "Sorry I'm late." "Don't worry. (I / not / wait) long."

Put it together · Exercise 10.3 · part 3 of 4

Put the verb into the present perfect simple (have done) or continuous (have been doing).

  1. Are you all right? Your eyes are red. You look as if (you / cry).

  2. "Is it still snowing?" "No, (it / stop)."

  3. The dogs are worn out. (they / play) in the park all afternoon.

  4. (I / lose) my keys. (you / see) them anywhere?

Put it together · Exercise 10.3 · part 4 of 4

Put the verb into the present perfect simple (have done) or continuous (have been doing).

  1. (I / watch) the series you recommended, but (I / not / finish) it yet. So far I love it.

  2. (I / watch) all of the series you recommended. What should I try next?

Lesson 10 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: how long have you (been) ... ?Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. The activity or the result–Not checkedB. More pairs–Not checkedC. How long, or how much and how many–Not checkedD. Verbs that are not normally continuous–Not checkedPut it together–Not checked