Present Perfect Continuous: for / since / recently / lately (B2)

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

I to lose weight for three months. (try)

Correct answer: have been trying

"For three months" + an unfinished goal → PPC. "Have tried" would suggest the attempt is over; here the effort continues.

Sales steadily since the new campaign launched. (rise)

Correct answer: have been rising

"Since the new campaign launched" introduces a starting event whose effect continues → PPC. Past simple "rose" would sever the link to the present trend.

My phone battery down really fast recently. (run)

Correct answer: has been running

"Recently" + a repeating present pattern → PPC. Present simple ("runs") describes a permanent habit and loses the recent-timeframe meaning.

I to bed early lately because of my new shift. (go)

Correct answer: have been going

"Lately" signals an ongoing recent pattern → PPC. "Go" alone states a habit but does not anchor it to the recent timeframe the rest of the sentence requires.

The phone all day — I can't get anything done! (ring)

Correct answer: has been ringing

"All day" + the visible present consequence ("can't get anything done") → PPC. "Has rung" suggests the ringing has stopped, which the complaint rules out.

We Italian for two years, but we still find the grammar hard. (study)

Correct answer: have been studying

"For two years" + an unfinished learning curve → PPC. "Have studied" would imply a closed course rather than the continuing study the second clause assumes.

My laptop strangely since I installed the new update. (behave)

Correct answer: has been behaving

"Since I installed" anchors a starting event whose effect continues → PPC. "Has behaved" hints at a finished episode and loses the still-broken meaning.

Our developers on the migration all week — they're nearly done. (work)

Correct answer: have been working

"All week" + "nearly done" both signal an in-progress task → PPC. "Have worked" would suggest the work is complete and contradict "nearly done".

I a lot about whether to change jobs lately. (think)

Correct answer: have been thinking

"Lately" + an ongoing internal deliberation → PPC. "Think" is normally stative, but it accepts the continuous form when it means "consider, mull over" — which fits a recent decision-making process.

They to sell that old farmhouse for ages. (try)

Correct answer: have been trying

"For ages" is a vague duration of continuing effort → PPC. "Have tried" implies they have given up, which "for ages" rarely conveys.

He much better since he started his new yoga class. (sleep)

Correct answer: has been sleeping

"Since he started" introduces a trigger whose effect continues → PPC. "Sleeps" loses the link to the trigger; "has slept" makes the improvement sound like a single completed event.

My mother to take up swimming recently. (consider)

Correct answer: has been considering

"Recently" + ongoing decision-making → PPC. "Considers" describes a generic habit and loses the recent-and-still-undecided meaning.

Our family to the same beach for over a decade. (go)

Correct answer: have been going

"For over a decade" + a continuing pattern of repeated trips → PPC. "Have gone" focuses on completed trips and loses the ongoing tradition.

What lately? It's been ages since we talked. (you / do)

Correct answer: have you been doing

Asking about ongoing recent activity → PPC. In questions the auxiliary inverts ("have you been doing"); the contracted form "'ve you" is not used in writing.

I for my passport for twenty minutes and I still can't find it! (search)

Correct answer: have been searching

"For twenty minutes" + "still can't find it" forces an unfinished search → PPC. "Have searched" would suggest the search is over, which "still" rules out.

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.

Your task

Fill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.

0 / 15 answered

Your score

0 / 150%

Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.

I to lose weight for three months. (try)

Correct answer: have been trying

"For three months" + an unfinished goal → PPC. "Have tried" would suggest the attempt is over; here the effort continues.

Sales steadily since the new campaign launched. (rise)

Correct answer: have been rising

"Since the new campaign launched" introduces a starting event whose effect continues → PPC. Past simple "rose" would sever the link to the present trend.

My phone battery down really fast recently. (run)

Correct answer: has been running

"Recently" + a repeating present pattern → PPC. Present simple ("runs") describes a permanent habit and loses the recent-timeframe meaning.

I to bed early lately because of my new shift. (go)

Correct answer: have been going

"Lately" signals an ongoing recent pattern → PPC. "Go" alone states a habit but does not anchor it to the recent timeframe the rest of the sentence requires.

The phone all day — I can't get anything done! (ring)

Correct answer: has been ringing

"All day" + the visible present consequence ("can't get anything done") → PPC. "Has rung" suggests the ringing has stopped, which the complaint rules out.

We Italian for two years, but we still find the grammar hard. (study)

Correct answer: have been studying

"For two years" + an unfinished learning curve → PPC. "Have studied" would imply a closed course rather than the continuing study the second clause assumes.

My laptop strangely since I installed the new update. (behave)

Correct answer: has been behaving

"Since I installed" anchors a starting event whose effect continues → PPC. "Has behaved" hints at a finished episode and loses the still-broken meaning.

Our developers on the migration all week — they're nearly done. (work)

Correct answer: have been working

"All week" + "nearly done" both signal an in-progress task → PPC. "Have worked" would suggest the work is complete and contradict "nearly done".

I a lot about whether to change jobs lately. (think)

Correct answer: have been thinking

They to sell that old farmhouse for ages. (try)

Correct answer: have been trying

"For ages" is a vague duration of continuing effort → PPC. "Have tried" implies they have given up, which "for ages" rarely conveys.

He much better since he started his new yoga class. (sleep)

Correct answer: has been sleeping

"Since he started" introduces a trigger whose effect continues → PPC. "Sleeps" loses the link to the trigger; "has slept" makes the improvement sound like a single completed event.

My mother to take up swimming recently. (consider)

Correct answer: has been considering

"Recently" + ongoing decision-making → PPC. "Considers" describes a generic habit and loses the recent-and-still-undecided meaning.

Our family to the same beach for over a decade. (go)

Correct answer: have been going

"For over a decade" + a continuing pattern of repeated trips → PPC. "Have gone" focuses on completed trips and loses the ongoing tradition.

What lately? It's been ages since we talked. (you / do)

Correct answer: have you been doing

Asking about ongoing recent activity → PPC. In questions the auxiliary inverts ("have you been doing"); the contracted form "'ve you" is not used in writing.

I for my passport for twenty minutes and I still can't find it! (search)

Correct answer: have been searching

"For twenty minutes" + "still can't find it" forces an unfinished search → PPC. "Have searched" would suggest the search is over, which "still" rules out.

Please answer at least one question first.

Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.