Ex. 3-Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

1. Both the present perfect or present perfect continuous express the idea
of an action that began in the past and continues in the present.
He has lived here for 10 years.
He has been living here for ten years.

2. The present perfect continuous cannot be used with non-action verbs such as like, have, be, love, etc.
Helen has known me for five months.
Incorrect: Helen has been knowing me for five months.

3. The present perfect can be used to express a repeated action or an action in the indefinite past; the present perfect continuous cannot.
I have visited her twice.
Incorrect: I have been visiting her twice.

4. The present perfect continuous gives emphasis to the continuousness of
an activity or to the fact that the activity is still going on.
I have been waiting for you for one hour. Why are you so late?
I can’t get this out of my mind. I’ve been thinking about it for two days.

I __________here for five years.
1. have lived
2. have been living
3. Both answers are correct.
He __________ a car since 1995.
1. has had
2. has been having
3. Both answers are correct.
They ________ married for six months.
1. have been
2. have been being
3. Both answers are correct.
She ________ already ________ her degree.
1. has ... gotten
2. has ... been getting
3. Both answers are correct.
We ________ to New York many times.
1. have gone
2. have been going
3. Both answers are correct.
You ________ since 2001.
1. have worked
2. have been working
3. Both answers are correct.
I ________ sick all week.
1. have felt
2. have been feeling
3. Both answers are correct.
Why are you so dirty? ________ you ________ in the mud?
1. have ... played
2. have ... been playing
3. Both answers are correct.
I can’t get this song out of my head. I ________ it all morning.
1. have hummed
2. have been humming
3. Both answers are correct.