Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1My eyes are tired because I ............... at the screen all morning.
Wrong!
Use "have been looking" for an activity that continued all morning and explains the present result.
2She ............... for the bus for twenty minutes, and it still hasn't arrived.
Wrong!
Use "has been waiting" for an action that started twenty minutes ago and is still continuing now.
3We ............... English since January, so we feel more confident now.
Wrong!
Use "have been studying" for an activity continuing from January up to now.
4Why are your hands so dirty? I ............... in the garden.
Wrong!
Use "have been working" because the dirty hands are present evidence of a recent activity.
5Tom is tired because he ............... all day.
Wrong!
Use "has been driving" for a long activity today that explains why Tom is tired now.
6It ............... since early this morning, so the streets are wet.
Wrong!
Use "has been raining" for rain that started earlier and has a visible result now.
7I ............... to call you since lunchtime, but your phone is off.
Wrong!
Use "have been trying" for repeated effort over a period that started at lunchtime and continues up to now.
8They ............... the house since Monday, so there are paint cans everywhere.
Wrong!
Use "have been painting" for an activity that started on Monday and continues up to now; the paint cans are the present evidence of it.
9How long ............... here? You look very comfortable already.
Wrong!
Use "have you been living" to ask about the duration of a situation up to now.
10He ............... too hard lately, so he wants to take a short break.
Wrong!
Use "has been working" for a recent repeated or continuous activity over a period of time.
11Sorry I'm late. I ............... for a parking space for ages.
Wrong!
Use "have been looking" for an activity that continued for a long time before now.
12The children ............... outside, so their clothes are covered in mud.
Wrong!
Use "have been playing" because the muddy clothes show the result of a recent activity.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
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 since lunchtime, but your phone is off.
- They have been painting the house since Monday, 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.