PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS EXERCISE 2 (ESL)

Grammar review Present perfect continuous — how to form it correctly

In this exercise, you are converting simple past sentences into the present perfect continuous. The structure always follows the same pattern — the challenge is getting the auxiliary (have been or has been) right, and spelling the -ing form correctly.

The formula:
have been / has been + verb-ing

When to use have been vs has been:
• I / you / we / they → have been + verb-ing
• he / she / it → has been + verb-ing

Examples of the transformation:
Simple past: I drew a picture.
Present perfect continuous: I have been drawing a picture.

Simple past: She ran every morning.
Present perfect continuous: She has been running every morning.

Spelling reminders for -ing forms:
• Drop silent -e: write → writing, live → living, drive → driving
• Double consonant in short CVC verbs: run → running, sit → sitting, swim → swimming
• Verbs ending in -ie: lie → lying, tie → tying

Did you know? The Michigan English Test (MET) checks grammar both directly and indirectly, depending on the section. Key aspects include:
1. Sentence structure & word order - proper syntax in written and spoken English.
2. Verb forms & tenses - present, past, future, perfect, and continuous forms.
3. Articles & determiners - a, an, the, and quantifiers.
4. Prepositions - correct use for time, place, and movement.
5. Pronouns & agreement - personal, possessive, and relative pronouns.
6. Complex grammar - conditionals, passive voice, relative clauses, and conjunctions.

How it's tested:
• Listening & Reading: multiple-choice questions often require grammar knowledge to understand meaning.
• Language Use Section: direct grammar tasks like fill-in-the-blank or sentence completion.
• Writing: assessed for grammatical accuracy and sentence variety.
Grammar is evaluated both as rule knowledge and as part of effective communication.