Exercises · Present perfect or present perfect continuous

Present perfect or present perfect continuous quiz

Choose the right tense for each sentence. Every example comes from real meetings, emails, updates and presentations – and each answer explains the rule.

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.

For and since
So far, in total or finished?
Done or doing?
Updates
Charts and graphs
Mixed review

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’ve been leading the team January.

forsince

2We’ve been working with this supplier six years.

forsince

3I CFO for three years.

amhave been

4I the team for two months.

am managinghave been managing

5I Maria since our first meeting in 2019.

knowhave knownhave been knowing

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 at my previous company for five years.

workedhave been working

2How long in the city? – Until Friday.

have you been stayingare you staying

3We here for three days so far, and we fly home on Sunday.

arehave been

4How long at your previous company?

have you workeddid you work

5We here for a week in total, so there’s time for a dinner on Thursday.

arehave been

3. Done or doing?

The finished result or the activity? How many, or how long?

Each answer explains the rule.

1I the report all morning, and I’m about halfway through.

have writtenhave been writing

2I the report. It’s in your inbox.

have writtenhave been writing

3You look exhausted. late every night this week?

Have you workedHave you been working

4We three new suppliers this month.

have contactedhave been contacting

5I that this strategy would work.

have always believedhave always been believing

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 I six interviews with potential candidates.

conductedhave conducted

2Last week we sales by 6%.

increasedhave increased

3In the last week we on efficiency, and we’re already seeing results.

workhave been working

4Over the past month we all of our supplier contracts.

reviewhave been reviewing

5In the last year our revenue by 12%.

grewhas grown

5. Charts and graphs

Describing trends: finished, still moving, or a final number?

Rules: 3.6 Charts and graphs

1Profits increased last year, but they since the start of this year.

decreasedhave been decreasing

2Profits by 4% in 2025.

increasedhave increased

3So far this year, profits by 6%.

have decreasedhave been decreasing

4They stable in 2024.

werehave been

5Since the beginning of 2026, our market share steadily.

rosehas been rising

6. Mixed review

All the rules together, in real business situations.

Rules: all lessons in ‘From the past to the present’

1I at the bank for ten years before I joined this company.

workedhave been working

2How long the team? – About two years.

are you leadinghave you been leading

3In the last month we three new markets.

enteredhave entered

4Sorry I’m late – I on a call with the auditors since nine.

amhave been

5Over the past year our costs faster than our revenue.

rosehave been rising

Check a section to see your score here.

More practice

Next exerciseGap-fillType the right form Next exerciseMatch the sentence halvesMatch the beginnings and endings The guideVerb Tenses in BusinessDiagrams and explanations

Correct on paper is not the same as natural in the boardroom

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