Grammar Games Speed Round
Present Perfect Continuous Game
Practise have or has been + -ing and duration clues.
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No sign-up. Just a quick round and the corrections that matter.
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Play first. Understand every answer.
The round is short; the corrections are the lesson. Use the guide below whenever you want a refresher.
How to play
- Choose Practice for an untimed round or Challenge for a timed round with three lives.
- Practice lets you choose a difficulty. Challenge mixes all three levels in a 12-question round.
- Read the correction after each answer, then continue with the related exercises for a full lesson.
Grammar guide
Present Perfect Continuous Game: rules and examples
Have or has been + -ing describes an activity continuing to now or leaving a visible result. Since gives a starting point; for gives a length of time.
01
Form
have/has been + verb-ing: I have been waiting, she has been working
She has been studying all day.
Has been + -ing is the continuous form.
02
Duration up to now
How long…? for, since: We've been living here for ten years.
Have you been waiting long?
Long asks about duration up to now.
03
Recent activity, visible result
You're out of breath — have you been running?
His eyes are red because he has been crying.
The recent activity has a visible result.
04
vs perfect simple
continuous highlights the activity/duration; simple highlights the result/quantity: I've been reading all day vs I've read 200 pages
I have read three books this week.
A completed number takes perfect simple.
05
State verbs
know, like, believe use the perfect simple instead: I have known her for years.
I have known her for years.
Know is a state verb and takes perfect simple.
FAQ
When do we use the present perfect continuous?
Use it for activities that started in the past and are still in progress (or have just stopped), especially when you focus on duration or the ongoing process: "I've been learning English for five years", "You've been watching TV all afternoon."
What is the difference between the present perfect simple and continuous?
The continuous emphasises the activity and its duration (I've been painting the house — that's how I spent my time); the simple emphasises completion, result or quantity (I've painted the house — it's finished; I've painted two rooms).
Which signal words go with the present perfect continuous?
How long, for, since, all day/morning/week, lately, recently. Questions with 'How long' about an ongoing activity almost always use the continuous form.
Can I use state verbs in the present perfect continuous?
No — state verbs like know, like, believe, own and understand use the present perfect simple even for long durations: "I have known him since school" (not 'have been knowing').
Is there a difference between 'I've lived here for years' and 'I've been living here for years'?
Both are correct with live and work, which accept either form for long-term situations. The continuous can sound slightly more temporary or more focused on the ongoing experience, but the difference is minimal with these verbs.
Can I use this game in class?
Yes. Let learners explain their choices before you reveal each correction.
Does the game save my score?
Your best Challenge score is saved in this browser.