Basics of the Present Perfect Continuous. 45 questions on form and expressing how long.
What this test covers
- Have/Has Been + -ing Form
- How Long / For / Since
- Visible Present Results
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1I ___ studying for three hours, and I am finally finished.
Answer: A. have been
With the word 'I,' we use 'have been' to talk about an action that started in the past and continued until now. We use 'has been' for 'he,' 'she,' or 'it,' so 'has been' is incorrect here.
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Q2She ___ working at that company since last summer.
Answer: C. has been
When the subject is 'she,' we use 'has been.' We use 'have been' for subjects like 'I,' 'you,' 'we,' and 'they.' The word 'is being' does not work for this past-to-present time connection.
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Q3They ___ playing soccer in the park all afternoon.
Answer: D. have been
The correct pattern is 'have been' or 'has been' followed by a verb ending in '-ing.' Since 'they' is plural, we use 'have been.' Make sure not to use 'have being' as that is not a correct English structure.
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Q4We ___ watching this movie for a long time.
Answer: B. have been
For the subject 'we,' use 'have been.' The option 'has been' is only for 'he,' 'she,' or 'it.' For example: 'We have been waiting' or 'She has been waiting.'
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Q5He ___ reading that book all day.
Answer: C. has been
With 'he,' 'she,' or 'it,' always use 'has been.' Do not use 'have been' for a single person like 'he.' Also, the combination 'is been' is never correct in English.
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Q6It ___ raining since early this morning.
Answer: A. has been
We use 'has been' for 'it' to describe the weather continuing from the morning until now. 'Have been' is used for plural subjects, and 'is been' or 'was been' are incorrect forms.
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Q7You ___ sleeping too much lately.
Answer: B. have been
The subject 'you' always pairs with 'have been.' Even though 'you' can refer to one person, it follows the same rule as 'we' and 'they.' Using 'has been' with 'you' is a common mistake.
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Q8My brother ___ not been feeling well recently.
Answer: A. has
'My brother' is the same as 'he,' so we must use 'has.' To make it negative, we say 'has not been.' We only use 'have' for 'I,' 'you,' 'we,' or 'they.'
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Q9The students ___ not been paying attention to the lecture.
Answer: A. have
'The students' is plural (more than one person), so we use 'have.' We use 'has' for only one person. For example: 'The students have been working' but 'The student has been working.'
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Q10I ___ not been sleeping enough this week.
Answer: D. have
The word 'I' always uses 'have.' For a negative sentence, put 'not' after 'have.' Using 'am' or 'has' with 'I' in this grammar pattern is incorrect.
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Q11___ you been waiting for a long time?
Answer: C. Have
To ask a question, we start with 'Have' when the subject is 'you.' We use 'Has' for 'he,' 'she,' or 'it.' Using 'Are' is a mistake because 'been' requires 'have' or 'has' before it.
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Q12___ she been practicing the piano?
Answer: A. Has
For questions about 'she,' 'he,' or 'it,' start the sentence with 'Has.' Do not use 'Have' for a single person like 'she.' For example: 'Has she been practicing?' vs 'Have they been practicing?'
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Q13___ they been traveling around Europe?
Answer: D. Have
When asking a question about 'they,' use 'Have' at the beginning. 'Has' is only for 'he,' 'she,' or 'it.' 'Are' is incorrect because it doesn't fit with 'been traveling.'
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Q14___ it been snowing in the mountains?
Answer: D. Has
Because the subject is 'it,' the question must start with 'Has.' Using 'Is' or 'Have' is grammatically incorrect for this tense.
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Q15___ we been working on this project together?
Answer: D. Have
Start the question with 'Have' when the subject is 'we.' 'Has' is only for singular subjects like 'he' or 'she.' Using 'Are' would be wrong because of the word 'been' later in the sentence.
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Q16I have been here ___ 9:00 AM.
Answer: B. since
Use 'since' when you talk about a specific starting point in time, like 9:00 AM, Monday, or 2010. Use 'for' when you talk about a total amount of time, like 'two hours.'
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Q17She has been waiting ___ two hours.
Answer: C. for
Use 'for' to talk about a duration or a length of time, such as 'two hours,' 'five days,' or 'ten years.' We use 'since' for a starting point (like 'since 2 o'clock'), not for a total number of hours.
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Q18They have been living here ___ 2015.
Answer: B. since
We use 'since' because 2015 is a specific starting year. If we wanted to use 'for,' we would count the years, such as 'for eight years.'
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Q19We have been friends ___ ten years.
Answer: C. for
'Ten years' is a length of time, so we use 'for.' We use 'since' only for a specific start date, like 'since 2013.'
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Q20He has been sick ___ last Monday.
Answer: B. since
Monday is a specific starting day, so we use 'since.' If we were counting the days, we would say 'for seven days.'
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Q21I have been working ___ a long time.
Answer: D. for
'A long time' is a length of time (duration), so 'for' is the correct choice. We use 'since' for a specific point, like 'since breakfast.'
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Q22She has been studying ___ this morning.
Answer: C. since
'This morning' is a specific point in time when she started. Therefore, we use 'since.' We use 'for' if we want to say how many hours she studied.
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Q23They have been playing ___ an hour.
Answer: C. for
'An hour' is a duration of time, so we use 'for.' We would use 'since' only if we named the exact time they started, like 'since 4:00.'
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Q24We have been waiting ___ three o'clock.
Answer: D. since
Three o'clock is a specific starting point on the clock, so we use 'since.' If we meant the total time, we would say 'for three hours.'
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Q25He has been training ___ several months.
Answer: C. for
'Several months' is a period of time, so 'for' is correct. We use 'since' for a specific month, like 'since January.'
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Q26Fix the error: 'I have been here since two days.'
Answer: A. I have been here for two days.
'Two days' is a length of time, so you must use 'for.' You only use 'since' for a specific starting point, like 'since Monday.'
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Q27Fix the error: 'She has been working for 2020.'
Answer: C. She has been working since 2020.
Since 2020 is a specific year, we must use 'since.' If you say 'for 2020,' it sounds like she has been working for over two thousand years!
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Q28Fix the error: 'He have been studying for the test.'
Answer: C. He has been studying for the test.
The subject 'he' must be used with 'has been,' not 'have been.' The word 'being' is also incorrect in this pattern; it should always be 'been' followed by an '-ing' verb.
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Q29Fix the error: 'We has been trying to call you.'
Answer: B. We have been trying to call you.
The plural subject 'we' requires 'have been.' 'Has been' is only for 'he,' 'she,' or 'it.' Also, 'have being' is not a correct form in English.
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Q30Fix the error: 'It have been snowing since noon.'
Answer: C. It has been snowing since noon.
'It' is a singular subject that always takes 'has.' So, 'It has been snowing' is correct. 'Have' and 'being' are incorrect in this context.
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Q31Fix the error: 'You has been doing a great job.'
Answer: B. You have been doing a great job.
Even though 'you' is often one person, it always uses 'have' in English. 'You has' is always incorrect. The correct phrase is 'You have been doing.'
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Q32Fix the error: 'You look tired, you have been sleep.'
Answer: B. You look tired, you have been sleeping.
This tense needs an '-ing' verb to show an action is ongoing. 'Sleep' must change to 'sleeping.' The correct pattern is 'have been' + '-ing.'
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Q33Fix the error: 'The grass is wet, it have been raining.'
Answer: C. The grass is wet, it has been raining.
For the subject 'it,' we must use 'has been.' 'It have been' is a subject-verb agreement error. Also, ensure you use 'been' and not 'being.'
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Q34Fix the error: 'They has been waiting for an hour.'
Answer: D. They have been waiting for an hour.
'They' is plural, so it must use 'have been.' 'They has' is a common mistake. Remember: 'He/She/It' uses 'has,' everything else uses 'have.'
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Q35Fix the error: 'I has been reading this book all day.'
Answer: C. I have been reading this book all day.
The subject 'I' always takes 'have.' 'I has' is incorrect. Also, remember the phrase is 'have been,' not 'have being.'
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Q36Your hands are dirty. ___ you been fixing the car?
Answer: A. Have
To ask a question about a recent activity, start with 'Have' if the subject is 'you.' 'Has' is only for 'he,' 'she,' or 'it.' 'Are' is wrong because it cannot be used with 'been' in this way.
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Q37You look exhausted. ___ you been running?
Answer: B. Have
We use 'Have you been...?' to ask about an activity that just finished and caused a result (like being exhausted). 'Has' is only for 'he,' 'she,' or 'it,' and 'Are' does not fit with 'been.'
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Q38The kitchen is messy. ___ you been cooking?
Answer: C. Have
Use 'Have you been...?' to ask why something is messy now. 'Have' is the correct helping word for 'you.' 'Has' would only be correct for 'he' or 'she.'
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Q39Why are your eyes red? ___ you been crying?
Answer: A. Have
Questions for 'you' in this tense start with 'Have.' We use this to ask about a recent action that explains a current situation (red eyes). 'Are' is not used before 'been' in this tense.
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Q40She is out of breath. She ___ been jogging.
Answer: C. has
For 'she,' we use 'has been' to explain why she is out of breath now. 'Have' is for plural subjects or 'I' and 'you.' 'Is' doesn't work with 'been' here.
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Q41The grass is wet. It ___ been raining.
Answer: B. has
The subject 'it' always goes with 'has.' We say 'It has been raining' to explain why the ground is wet now. Using 'have' with 'it' is a mistake.
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Q42They are very tired. They ___ been working hard.
Answer: A. have
'They' is a plural subject, so it uses 'have been.' 'Has been' is only for singular subjects like 'he' or 'she.' 'Are been' is never used in English.
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Q43Your clothes are wet; you ___ swimming.
Answer: A. have been
When we see a result (wet clothes) from a recent activity, we use 'have been' + '-ing.' 'You' always takes 'have,' not 'has.' 'Are been' is grammatically incorrect.
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Q44The floor is slippery; you ___ mopping.
Answer: D. have been
We use 'have been' with 'you' to explain the current state of the floor. 'Has been' is only for 'he,' 'she,' or 'it.' 'Are been' is not a correct structure.
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Q45Fix the error: 'The cake is gone; has you been eating?'
Answer: C. The cake is gone; have you been eating?
The correct question form for 'you' is 'have you been' plus the '-ing' verb. 'Has you' is incorrect because 'you' always pairs with 'have.' Also, 'being' is the wrong word; it must be 'been.'
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