Present Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises

20 Present Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises in English

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Last updated on September 12th, 2026 at 10:06 am

The present perfect continuous tense describes an action that began in the past and is still going on now. It’s formed with “have been” or “has been” plus the -ing form of the main verb.

This tense often comes up when learners mix up “since” and “for,” or confuse it with the simple present perfect, so the exercises below focus on exactly those trouble spots.

For example, “I have been studying for three hours” emphasizes how long the action has continued, not just that it happened.

Below are 20 exercises to help you practice and master this tense.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Exercises

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Exercise 1: Complete the sentence with the correct form of the present perfect continuous tense.

  • I (study) ____________ for three hours.
  • She (work) ____________ here since January.
  • They (play) ____________ tennis for two hours.
  • He (wait) ____________ for the bus for 20 minutes.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentence using the present perfect continuous tense.

  • I have been learning English for two years. → I ____________ learning English for two years.
  • She has been playing the piano since she was six. → She ____________ the piano since she was six.
  • They have been living in London for five years. → They ____________ in London for five years.
  • He has been working here since 2010. → He ____________ here since 2010.

Exercise 3: Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

  • Sarah ____________ (have been waiting/has been waiting) for her friend for an hour.
  • I ____________ (have been learning/has been learning) Spanish these days.
  • They ____________ (working/have been working) at the factory for six months.
  • He ____________ (have been studying/has been studying) for the exam tomorrow.

Exercise 4: Put the verb in brackets into the correct form of the present perfect continuous tense.

  • She (paint) ____________ the kitchen since morning.
  • They (wait) ____________ for the train for an hour.
  • He (study) ____________ English for three years.
  • I (run) ____________ for 30 minutes.

Exercise 5: Complete the sentence with the correct form of the present perfect continuous tense.

  • She (work) ____________ on the project for five hours.
  • They (play) ____________ basketball since morning.
  • He (wait) ____________ for his friend for an hour.
  • I (study) ____________ for the exam for three days.

Exercise 6: Rewrite the sentence using the present perfect continuous tense.

  • I have been playing football for two hours. → I ____________ football for two hours.
  • She has been studying French since last year. → She ____________ French since last year.
  • They have been watching TV all day. → They ____________ TV all day.
  • He has been working out for an hour. → He ____________ out for an hour.

Exercise 7: Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

  • He ____________ (waited/has been waiting) for the bus for 30 minutes.
  • They ____________ (traveled/have been traveling) around Europe for six months.
  • I ____________ (work/have been working) on a new project since last Friday.
  • She ____________ (studied/has been studying) for her exam for two weeks.

Exercise 8: Put the verb in brackets into the correct form of the present perfect continuous tense.

  • They (play) ____________ chess for three hours.
  • He (work) ____________ at the office since morning.
  • I (wait) ____________ for my friend for 20 minutes.
  • She (study) ____________ for the exam for two days.

Exercise 9: Complete the sentence with the correct form of the present perfect continuous tense.

  • They (work) ____________ on the project for a week.
  • He (wait) ____________ for the train for 40 minutes.
  • She (study) ____________ Spanish for six months.
  • I (run) ____________ for an hour.

Exercise 10: Rewrite the sentence using the present perfect continuous tense.

  • I have been living in New York for five years. → I ____________ in New York for five years.
  • She has been playing the guitar since she was a child. → She ____________ the guitar since she was a child.
  • They have been working for the company for 10 years. → They ____________ for the company for 10 years.
  • He has been learning to cook for a month. → He ____________ to cook for a month.

Exercise 11: Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

  • She ____________ (waited/has been waiting) for her friend for an hour.
  • They ____________ (travel/have been traveling) around Asia for six months.
  • I ____________ (study/have been studying) English for a year.
  • He ____________ (worked/has been working) at the factory for two years.

Exercise 12: Put the verb in brackets into the correct form of the present perfect continuous tense.

  • They (play) ____________ football for two hours.
  • She (wait) ____________ for her boyfriend for 30 minutes.
  • He (study) ____________ for the exam for three days.
  • I (work) ____________ on the project for a week.

Exercise 13: Complete the sentence with the correct form of the present perfect continuous tense.

  • He (run) ____________ for 30 minutes.
  • They (wait) ____________ for the movie to start for 20 minutes.
  • She (study) ____________ for her test for three hours.
  • I (work) ____________ on the report for two days.

Exercise 14: Rewrite the sentence using the present perfect continuous tense.

  • I have been reading this book for two hours. → I ____________ this book for two hours.
  • She has been dancing since she was five. → She ____________ since she was five.
  • They have been swimming for an hour. → They ____________ for an hour.
  • He has been playing video games for three hours. → He ____________ video games for three hours.

Exercise 15: Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

  • He ____________ (been working/has been working) on the project for two weeks.
  • They ____________ (played/have been playing) tennis since morning.
  • I ____________ (waited/have been waiting) for the bus for 20 minutes.
  • She ____________ (studied/has been studying) for the exam for a week.

Exercise 16: Put the verb in brackets into the correct form of the present perfect continuous tense.

  • She (paint) ____________ the house for a week.
  • They (wait) ____________ for the concert to start for an hour.
  • He (study) ____________ English for six months.
  • I (work) ____________ on the project for three days.

Exercise 17: Complete the sentence with the correct form of the present perfect continuous tense.

  • She (swim) ____________ for an hour.
  • They (wait) ____________ for the bus for 30 minutes.
  • He (study) ____________ for the exam for two days.
  • I (work) ____________ on the report for a week.

Exercise 18: Rewrite the sentence using the present perfect continuous tense.

  • I have been watching TV for two hours. → I ____________ TV for two hours.
  • She has been singing since she was a child. → She ____________ since she was a child.
  • They have been playing the guitar for a year. → They ____________ the guitar for a year.
  • He has been drawing for three hours. → He ____________ for three hours.

Exercise 19: Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

  • We ____________ (practice/have been practicing) yoga for six months.
  • The children ____________ (play/have been playing) in the garden all afternoon.
  • You ____________ (texted/have been texting) her all day.
  • My parents ____________ (renovated/have been renovating) their house since spring.

Exercise 20: Put the verb in brackets into the correct form of the present perfect continuous tense.

  • She (paint) ____________ the picture for an hour.
  • They (wait) ____________ for the movie to start for 30 minutes.
  • He (study) ____________ for the test for three days.
  • I (work) ____________ on the project for two weeks.

Answers

Exercise 1:

  1. I have been studying for three hours.
  2. She has been working here since January.
  3. They have been playing tennis for two hours.
  4. He has been waiting for the bus for 20 minutes.

Exercise 2:

  1. I have been learning English for two years.
  2. She has been playing the piano since she was six.
  3. They have been living in London for five years.
  4. He has been working here since 2010.

Exercise 3:

  1. Sarah has been waiting for her friend for an hour.
  2. I have been learning Spanish these days.
  3. They have been working at the factory for six months.
  4. He has been studying for the exam tomorrow.

Exercise 4:

  1. She has been painting the kitchen since morning.
  2. They have been waiting for the train for an hour.
  3. He has been studying English for three years.
  4. I have been running for 30 minutes.

Exercise 5:

  1. She has been working on the project for five hours.
  2. They have been playing basketball since morning.
  3. He has been waiting for his friend for an hour.
  4. I have been studying for the exam for three days.

Exercise 6:

  1. I have been playing football for two hours.
  2. She has been studying French since last year.
  3. They have been watching TV all day.
  4. He has been working out for an hour.

Exercise 7:

  1. He has been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes.
  2. They have been traveling around Europe for six months.
  3. I have been working on a new project since last Friday.
  4. She has been studying for her exam for two weeks.

Exercise 8:

  1. They have been playing chess for three hours.
  2. He has been working at the office since morning.
  3. I have been waiting for my friend for 20 minutes.
  4. She has been studying for the exam for two days.

Exercise 9:

  1. They have been working on the project for a week.
  2. He has been waiting for the train for 40 minutes.
  3. She has been studying Spanish for six months.
  4. I have been running for an hour.

Exercise 10:

  1. I have been living in New York for five years.
  2. She has been playing the guitar since she was a child.
  3. They have been working for the company for 10 years.
  4. He has been learning to cook for a month.

Exercise 11:

  1. She has been waiting for her friend for an hour.
  2. They have been traveling around Asia for six months.
  3. I have been studying English for a year.
  4. He has been working at the factory for two years.

Exercise 12:

  1. They have been playing football for two hours.
  2. She has been waiting for her boyfriend for 30 minutes.
  3. He has been studying for the exam for three days.
  4. I have been working on the project for a week.

Exercise 13:

  1. He has been running for 30 minutes.
  2. They have been waiting for the movie to start for 20 minutes.
  3. She has been studying for her test for three hours.
  4. I have been working on the report for two days.

Exercise 14:

  1. I have been reading this book for two hours.
  2. She has been dancing since she was five.
  3. They have been swimming for an hour.
  4. He has been playing video games for three hours.

Exercise 15:

  1. He has been working on the project for two weeks.
  2. They have been playing tennis since morning.
  3. I have been waiting for the bus for 20 minutes.
  4. She has been studying for the exam for a week.

Exercise 16:

  1. She has been painting the house for a week.
  2. They have been waiting for the concert to start for an hour.
  3. He has been studying English for six months.
  4. I have been working on the project for three days.

Exercise 17:

  1. She has been swimming for an hour.
  2. They have been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes.
  3. He has been studying for the exam for two days.
  4. I have been working on the report for a week.

Exercise 18:

  1. I have been watching TV for two hours.
  2. She has been singing since she was a child.
  3. They have been playing the guitar for a year.
  4. He has been drawing for three hours.

Exercise 19:

  1. We have been practicing yoga for six months.
  2. The children have been playing in the garden all afternoon.
  3. You have been texting her all day.
  4. My parents have been renovating their house since spring.

Exercise 20:

  1. She has been painting the picture for an hour.
  2. They have been waiting for the movie to start for 30 minutes.
  3. He has been studying for the test for three days.
  4. I have been working on the project for two weeks.

That’s it for our 20 present perfect continuous tense exercises! Keep practising, and you’ll be a master in no time. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the present perfect continuous tense used for?

It describes an action that started in the past and is still continuing now, emphasizing how long it has been happening — for example, “I have been waiting for an hour.”

What is the structure of the present perfect continuous tense?

Subject + have/has + been + verb-ing, as in “She has been working here since January.” Use “has” with he/she/it and “have” with I/you/we/they.

What is the difference between “since” and “for” in this tense?

“Since” marks the starting point of the action (“since January”), while “for” marks its duration (“for three months”). Both are common with the present perfect continuous.

How is present perfect continuous different from present perfect?

Present perfect continuous (“I have been studying”) stresses the ongoing duration of an action, while present perfect (“I have studied”) stresses the result or completion.

Can the present perfect continuous be used in the negative?

Yes — add “not” after have/has: “She has not been feeling well lately,” or use the contraction “hasn’t been” / “haven’t been.”

Are these 20 exercises suitable for beginners?

They work well for beginner to intermediate learners. Each exercise type — filling blanks, rewriting sentences, choosing the correct option, and using verbs in brackets — builds a different part of the skill.

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