Simple Present - Present Perfect Progressive

Form
Simple Present

Present Perfect Progressive

infinitive

form of 'have' + been + ing-form

(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')

Example:

Example:

I / you / we / they have been speaking

he / she / it has been speaking

I / you / we / they speak

he / she / it speaks

Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's':
Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

The verbs can, may, might,

Silent e as final letter is dropped. (does not apply

must remain the same in all forms. Do not
for -ee)
add s.
Example: come - coming
Example: he can, she may, it must
but: agree - agreeing

For verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch,

sh, s, z), add es.

After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant

is doubled.

Example: do - he does, wash - she washes

y as final letter after a consonant

becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)

Example: sit - sitting

l as final letter after a single vowel is doubled in
British English (but not in American English).

Example: worry - he worries

but: play - he plays

Example: travel - travelling

ie at the end of the word becomes y.

Example: lie - lying

Use
We use Simple Present for general statements about the present and for actions taking place
regularly in the present. We use Present Perfect Progressive to express how long an action has
been going on.
General statements (when/how often) or how long already?
Do you want to make a general statement about the present, e.g. say when or how often an
action usually takes place? Or do you want to express, how long an action has already been
going on?
1

Simple Present

Present Perfect Progressive

how long already

general statement, when / how often

I have been writing for an hour.

I write a letter every day.

Signal Words
Simple Present

Present Perfect Progressive

how often
... times

how long
since
for

Note: The signal words for Simple Present are the same here as for Present Perfect Simple. If
we use these signal words for Simple Present, we want to know how often an action usually
takes place in the present (not how often it has taken place so far). There is a difference, because
you can ask someone how often he plays tennis (in general) or how often he has played tennis
(so far).

Test 1
Use
When to use which tense?
1. 'for seven days' is a signal word for ..
2. 'since 6 o'clock' is a signal word for ..
3. 'often' is a signal word for
Positive Sentences
Fill in the correct tense (Simple Present or Present Perfect Progressive).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

I (read) since two o'clock.

He (meet) his friends after school every day.
They (live) here for just three months.
The weather here (be) .. really bad in winter.
We always (get up) .. very late on Sundays.

Negative Sentences
Fill in the correct tense (Simple Present or Present Perfect Progressive).
1.
2.
3.
4.

My parents (speak/not) ... English very well.

We (watch/not) TV for four hours.
She (play/not) .. tennis on Tuesdays.
He (study/not) . for his English test since he came
home.
5. You need a break? Already? We (cycle/not) for more than half an
hour.
Questions
Fill in the correct tense (Simple Present or Present Perfect Progressive).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

What time (start/you) school on Mondays?

When (leave/the train) . for Manchester?
How long (wait/we) for him?
(go/she) .. to school for six years now?
(get/they) .. much homework at school each
day?
Text
Fill in the correct tense (Simple Present or Present Perfect Progressive).

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.

Interviewer: Jane, how long (learn/you)

English?
Jane: I (learn) English for six years. It's one of my
favourite subjects.
Interviewer: What other subjects (like/you)
.?
Jane: I also (love) art and physical
education.
Interviewer: How often (do/you)
sports per week?
Jane: I (go) jogging every morning and I (play)
..... in my schools basketball team for two years.
We (train) . three times a week.
Interviewer: And what about art? (paint/you) . a
lot?
Jane: Oh yes, I (paint) .. since I was just two
years old.

Test 2
Use
When to use which tense?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

'never' is a signal word for ..

'every Monday' is a signal word for
'for eight months' is a signal word for
'twice a week' is a signal word for ..
'since yesterday' is a signal word for ..
Positive Sentences
Fill in the correct tense (Simple Present or Present Perfect Progressive).

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

My friend (travel) .. around Canada for five weeks.

They (sleep) ..... for more than 10 hours.
She (visit) .. another museum every week.
He (feed) his dog three times a day.
The children (play) .. in the garden since they came home.
Negative Sentences
Fill in the correct tense (Simple Present or Present Perfect Progressive).

1.
2.
3.

We (see/not) each other very often nowadays.

My little brother (learn/not).. English for a year yet.
They (play/not) . for ten minutes, but the score is 5:1
already.
4.
My mum (work/not).. on Tuesdays.
5.
My socks are smelly although I (wear/not) them for a
complete day yet.
Questions
Fill in the correct tense (Simple Present or Present Perfect Progressive).
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

(go/you) by bus very often?

Since when (ski/Betty).?
What time (have/he) dinner in the evenings?
How long (rain/it).?
(work/you) .. at the hospital for a long time yet?

Text
Fill in the correct tense (Simple Present or Present Perfect Progressive).
1. William and his parents (live) .. in Aberdeen for one year.
2. Although William was a little afraid of moving to Aberdeen, he (have).
many friends here now.
3. Four of his best friends (go). camping every summer.
4. This year, William (want) .. to go with them.
5. The five boys (plan) their holiday for a few months now.
6. They already (know) where to go and what to
do.
7. What they (need) now, is a little more money.
8. William only (get).. very little pocket money every
month.
9. That (be) not enough.
10. To earn some extra money, he (deliver). newspapers for 6 weeks.