Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1My eyes are tired because I ............... at the screen all morning.
Wrong!
"Have been looking" is correct because the present perfect continuous describes an activity continuing up to now with a present result.
2She ............... for the bus for twenty minutes, and it still hasn't arrived.
Wrong!
"Has been waiting" is correct because the action started in the past and is still continuing now.
3We ............... English since January, so we feel more confident now.
Wrong!
"Have been studying" is correct because it shows an activity over a period of time up to the present.
4Why are your hands so dirty? I ............... in the garden.
Wrong!
"Have been working" is correct because the present evidence suggests a recent ongoing activity.
5Tom is tired because he ............... all day.
Wrong!
"Has been driving" is correct because it describes a long activity leading to a present result.
6It ............... since early this morning, so the streets are wet.
Wrong!
"Has been raining" is correct because the action began earlier and its result is visible now.
7I ............... to call you all afternoon, but your phone was off.
Wrong!
"Have been trying" is correct because it shows repeated effort over a period of time until now.
8They ............... the house recently, so there are paint cans everywhere.
Wrong!
"Have been painting" is correct because the sentence focuses on the recent activity and its visible result.
9How long ............... here? You look very comfortable already.
Wrong!
"Have you been living" is correct because we use the present perfect continuous to ask about duration up to now.
10He ............... too hard lately, so he wants to take a short break.
Wrong!
"Has been working" is correct because it describes a recent ongoing activity over a period of time.
11Sorry I'm late. I ............... for a parking space for ages.
Wrong!
"Have been looking" is correct because it shows an activity continuing for some time before now.
12The children ............... outside, so their clothes are covered in mud.
Wrong!
"Have been playing" is correct because the muddy clothes show the result of a recent ongoing activity.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- My eyes are tired because I have been looking at the screen all morning.
- She has been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes, and it still hasn’t arrived.
- We have been studying English since January, so we feel more confident now.
- Why are your hands so dirty? I have been working in the garden.
- Tom is tired because he has been driving all day.
- It has been raining since early this morning, so the streets are wet.
- I have been trying to call you all afternoon, but your phone was off.
- They have been painting the house recently, so there are paint cans everywhere.
- How long have you been living here? You look very comfortable already.
- He has been working too hard lately, so he wants to take a short break.
- Sorry I’m late. I have been looking for a parking space for ages.
- The children have been playing outside, so their clothes are covered in mud.
