Exercises · Present perfect or present perfect continuous
Present perfect or present perfect continuous gap-fill
Type the correct form of the verb in brackets. Contractions (I’ve, she’s) and full forms (I have, she has) are both accepted.
Need a refresher? Review the rules in 3.4 For and since in business introductions, 3.5 Giving updates: ‘in the last week’ and 3.6 Charts and graphs in our Verb Tenses in Business guide.
1. For and since
How long have you been in your role? ‘Since’ + the start time, ‘for’ + the length of time – and the right tense with both.
Rules: 3.4 For and since in business introductions
1I (work) at the company since 2018.
2She (be) our head of operations for about three years.
3We (know) each other since business school.
4I (lead) this project for six months, and it’s going well.
5How long have you (be) at the company?
2. So far, in total or finished?
Still going, the total length of a stay, or finished? Each one needs a different tense.
Rules: 3.4 For and since in business introductions
1I (work) at X company for three years, but I left in 2024.
2We (stay) at the hotel for three days so far.
3We (stay) in the city for five days in total – we leave on Saturday.
4How long have you (be) in Prague? – Since Monday.
5How long (you / work) at your previous company?
3. Done or doing?
The finished result or the activity? How many, or how long?
Each answer explains the rule.
1I (call) the client five times today, but they never answer.
2We (negotiate) with the union for weeks, and we’re finally close to a deal.
3Someone (delete) the final version of the contract – I can’t find it anywhere.
4The office is noisy because the builders (renovate) the meeting rooms.
5I (know) about the delay since Monday.
4. Updates
‘Last week’ or ‘in the last week’? Giving updates in meetings.
Rules: 3.5 Giving updates: ‘in the last week’
1In the last week we (finalise) the budget for the Warsaw office.
2Over the past week we (go) through the Q3 numbers with the auditors.
3Last month we (open) two new offices.
4In the last few days I (speak) to all five regional managers.
5Over the past six months we (restructure) the sales team, and we’ll finish in January.
5. Charts and graphs
Describing trends: finished, still moving, or a final number?
Rules: 3.6 Charts and graphs
1Profits (fall) in 2023.
2Since January, costs (rise) steadily.
3The stock price (increase) to $100 last year.
4But during this year it (decrease) to $90.
5Since the new campaign launched, website traffic (grow) every month.
6. Mixed review
All the rules together, in real business situations.
Rules: all lessons in ‘From the past to the present’
1I (know) our CEO since we worked together at a start-up.
2We (be) in Warsaw for two days, and we’re here for a week in total.
3Last year revenue (grow) by 8%.
4I (finish) the slides – do you want to see them?
5We (discuss) this issue for months. It’s time to make a decision.
Check a section to see your score here.
More practice
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