Esercizi su present perfect simple e continuous

Present perfect simple o continuous? This is the problem. In effetti, questi due tempi verbali condividono diverse caratteristiche, la prima tra queste è quella di riferirsi entrambi ad azioni che hanno inizio nel passato e continuano fino al presente (o che hanno effetto sul presente). Capiamo però dove stanno le differenze così da metterci alla prova con degli esercizi sul present perfect simple e continuous!

Present perfect simple e continuous: esercizi e struttura

• Il present perfect simple viene formato con l’ausiliare “have” (o “has” per la terza persona singolare) seguito dal participio passato del verbo principale. Ad esempio: “I have studied English for three years” (Ho studiato inglese per tre anni).
• Il present perfect continuous, invece, viene formato con l’ausiliare “have been” (o “has been” per la terza persona singolare) seguito dal gerundio del verbo principale. Ad esempio: “I have been studying English for three years” (Sto studiando inglese da tre anni).

La differenza principale tra i due tempi verbali, che puoi scoprire anche con le lezioni di inglese online, sta nel fatto che il present perfect simple enfatizza il risultato dell’azione, mentre il present perfect continuous enfatizza il processo o l’azione in corso. Ad esempio, “I have read three books this month” (Ho letto tre libri questo mese) enfatizza il risultato raggiunto, mentre “She has been reading for three hours” (Lei sta leggendo da tre ore) enfatizza il processo o l’azione in corso.

Per testare le differenze tra present perfect simple e present perfect continuous prova i seguenti esercizi: troverai le soluzioni evidenziando il testo nascosto dopo ciascun esercizio.

Exercise 1 – Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses using present perfect or present perfect continuous.

1. I _______ (study) English for three years.
2. She _______ (not finish) her homework yet.
3. They _______ (visit) five different countries this year.
4. He _______ (just arrive) at the airport.
5. We _______ (not see) that movie yet.
6. She _______ (read) three books this month.
7. They _______ (live) in this city for ten years.
8. I _______ (not decide) what to do yet.
9. He _______ (play) soccer since he was a child.
10. I _______ (work) on this project all morning.
11. They _______ (wait) for the bus for over an hour.
12. We _______ (practice) the piano every day this week.

Answers for exercise 1:

1. have studied
2. hasn’t finished
3. have visited
4. has just arrived
5. haven’t seen
6. has read
7. have lived
8. haven’t decided
9. has played
10. have been working
11. have been waiting
12. have been practicing

Exercise 2 – Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. ___________ you ___________ (study) English for a long time? 

a) Are, studying
b) Studied
c) Have, studied
d) Have, been studying

2. She ___________ (live) in New York for five years. 

a) lived
b) has lived
c) is living
d) has been living

3. They ___________ (wait) for the train for two hours. 

a) waited
b) have waited
c) are waiting
d) have been waiting

4. He ___________ (play) tennis since he was a child. 

a) played
b) has played
c) is playing
d) has been playing

5. We ___________ (travel) to six different countries this year. 

a) traveled
b) are traveling
c) have traveled
d) have been traveling

6. She ___________ (teach) at the university for five years. 

a) taught
b) has taught
c) is teaching
d) has been teaching

7. I ___________ (not decide) what to do yet. 

a) didn’t decide
b) haven’t been deciding
c) am not deciding
d) haven’t decided

8. They ___________ (live) in this city for ten years. 

a) lived
b) have lived
c) are living
d) have been living

9. He ___________ (work) at the company for five years. 

a) worked
b) is working
c) has worked
d) has been working

10. We ___________ (wait) for the movie to start for thirty minutes. 

a) waited
b) are waiting
c) have waited
d) have been waiting

Answers for exercise 2:

1. d) have, been studying
2. b) has lived
3. d) have been waiting
4. d) has been playing
5. c) have traveled
6. b) has taught
7. d) haven’t decided
8. b) have lived
9. d) has been working
10. d) have been waiting

Alexandra P. – Teacher