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Present perfect continuous tense Exercises in English language

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The present perfect continuous tense is an essential aspect of English grammar that allows speakers to express actions or situations that began in the past and have continued up to the present moment. This tense is particularly useful for highlighting the duration and ongoing nature of activities, providing a nuanced way to convey time and continuity in communication. For instance, when you say, "I have been studying for three hours," you emphasize not only the action of studying but also its persistence over a period of time. Mastering the present perfect continuous tense is crucial for achieving fluency and clarity in English. It enables learners to describe ongoing actions, experiences, and changes with precision. Our grammar exercises are designed to help you practice and internalize the rules and usage of this tense, ensuring you can confidently incorporate it into your everyday conversations and writing. By engaging with these exercises, you will enhance your ability to convey complex temporal relationships, making your English more dynamic and expressive.

Exercise 1

1. She *has been studying* for her exams all week (continuous action). 2. They *have been playing* football since morning (ongoing activity). 3. I *have been reading* this book for two hours (duration of action). 4. He *has been working* on the project for the last three days (ongoing effort). 5. We *have been waiting* for the bus for 30 minutes (continuous wait). 6. The children *have been swimming* in the pool since noon (activity in progress). 7. She *has been cooking* dinner since 5 PM (ongoing preparation). 8. They *have been living* in that house for five years (ongoing residence). 9. He *has been learning* Spanish for six months (ongoing education). 10. I *have been feeling* very tired lately (continuing state).

Exercise 2

1. She *has been reading* that book for hours (verb related to consuming literature). 2. They *have been working* on the project since last week (verb related to employment or effort). 3. He *has been playing* the guitar all afternoon (verb related to musical instrument). 4. The children *have been swimming* in the pool for two hours (verb related to water activity). 5. We *have been studying* for the exam all night (verb related to learning). 6. The dog *has been barking* at the mailman every morning (verb related to sound made by a dog). 7. I *have been waiting* for the bus for twenty minutes (verb related to anticipation). 8. You *have been cooking* dinner since 5 PM (verb related to preparing food). 9. They *have been traveling* around Europe for the past month (verb related to visiting places). 10. She *has been painting* the house all day (verb related to applying color to surfaces).

Exercise 3

1. She *has been studying* for her exams all week (continuous action). 2. They *have been working* on the project since morning (ongoing task). 3. He *has been playing* the guitar for two hours (musical activity). 4. We *have been waiting* for the bus for twenty minutes (waiting duration). 5. The kids *have been swimming* in the pool all afternoon (recreational activity). 6. I *have been feeling* unwell since yesterday (ongoing health condition). 7. She *has been reading* that book for a month (reading duration). 8. They *have been living* in this town for ten years (residency duration). 9. He *has been learning* French for the last three months (language study). 10. We *have been cooking* dinner together every evening (daily activity).