Present and Past Perfect Continuous - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

19 original exam-style questions - 9 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

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KS3 · Grammar

Y7.3 Present and Past Perfect Continuous

Calculators not allowed · about 50 minutes
Name: _______________________________    Date: ____ / ____ / ______
Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

Backstage Diary: The Year 7 Talent Show

Source written for Revision Library (original, copyright-free). Written specifically for this Year 7 grammar worksheet pack; not derived from or based on any published work, past paper or copyrighted text.

Wednesday 11th March

I have been practising my juggling act every lunchtime this week, and my hands have finally stopped aching from dropping the clubs so often. Priya has been helping me build a proper routine, and we have been rehearsing together since Monday. I have not been sleeping very well, because I keep imagining a silent, staring audience. Mr Okafor has been encouraging us all week, and he has promised to introduce our act himself. My little sister has been asking to watch every single rehearsal, though I have politely refused so far.

Friday 13th March

By the time I walked out onto the stage, I had been shaking backstage for almost twenty minutes. The stage crew had been testing the lighting rig all afternoon, so everything looked ready. I had been rehearsing the opening trick in my head so many times that my hands moved almost by themselves. Before the compere had even finished announcing my name, I had already started counting the clubs under my breath. When the music began, I realised that all the practice had finally been worth it. The audience had been waiting patiently, and now they were finally watching me juggle.

1
Each phrase below comes from the diary. Identify whether it is written in the present perfect continuous or the past perfect continuous tense.
(a)'have been practising'(1)
(b)'had been shaking'(1)
(c)'has been encouraging us'(1)
(d)'had been testing'(1)
(e)'have not been sleeping'(1)
2
Underline the perfect continuous verb phrase in each sentence.
(a)The children have been playing football since three o'clock.(1)
(b)She had been waiting for an hour when the bus finally arrived.(1)
(c)We have been walking for miles today.(1)
(d)He had been reading quietly before the alarm rang.(1)
3
Which sentence is written in the past perfect continuous tense?
  • A) The dog has been barking all morning.
  • B) The dog had been barking for ten minutes before anyone noticed.
  • C) The dog barked loudly.
  • D) The dog is barking loudly.
4
Sort the time expressions in the word bank into the correct column below, to show which perfect continuous tense each one naturally goes with.
Word bank: since Monday | before the alarm rang | all week | when the teacher arrived | so far this term | by the time the bell rang
Present perfect continuous (has/have been ___ing)Past perfect continuous (had been ___ing)
(6)
5
Look at this sentence from the diary: 'Priya has been helping me build a proper routine, and we have been rehearsing together since Monday.' Explain what the present perfect continuous tense tells the reader about the rehearsing, referring to both when it started and whether it has definitely finished.
(2)
6
Complete each sentence with the correct present perfect continuous form of the verb in brackets.
(a)I ___ (train) for the county trials for six weeks.(1)
(b)She ___ (practise) her speech since breakfast.(1)
(c)The twins ___ (build) a den in the garden all afternoon.(1)
(d)My brother ___ (complain) about his blisters since Tuesday.(1)
(e)The students ___ (rehearse) their lines every day this week.(1)
7
Complete each sentence with the correct past perfect continuous form of the verb in brackets.
(a)By midnight, the wind ___ (howl) for hours.(1)
(b)She ___ (wait) outside for ten minutes before the doors opened.(1)
(c)The dog ___ (bark) at the postman when Dad finally opened the door.(1)
(d)We ___ (walk) for an hour when the rain started.(1)
8
Tick has or have to complete each sentence correctly.
(a)Everybody ___ been asking about the results.(1)
  • has
  • have
(b)My parents ___ been decorating the lounge since Saturday.(1)
  • has
  • have
(c)The teacher ___ been marking books all evening.(1)
  • has
  • have
(d)The children ___ been giggling at the back of the room.(1)
  • has
  • have
(e)I ___ been meaning to call you all week.(1)
  • has
  • have
9
Combine each pair of sentences into one sentence, using the past perfect continuous and the word given.
(a)Tom was reading his book. His phone suddenly buzzed. (when)(2)
(b)The team was practising penalties. The whistle blew for full time. (before)(2)
10
Rewrite each sentence in the present perfect continuous tense. Add a suitable time expression of your own (using since or for) to complete the meaning.
(a)I read.(2)
(b)The baby cries.(2)
(c)They argue.(2)
11
Look at this pair of sentences: 'I have painted my bedroom.' and 'I have been painting my bedroom.' Explain the difference in meaning between the two sentences.
(2)
12
Each sentence below has an incorrect helping verb. Rewrite each sentence, correcting has, have or had.
(a)The girls has been training every morning before school.(1)
(b)My dad have been fixing the car all weekend.(1)
(c)By the time we arrived, the film have been playing for twenty minutes.(1)
(d)I has been waiting here since two o'clock.(1)
13
Each sentence below has an incorrect verb form. Rewrite each sentence, correcting the perfect continuous verb.
(a)She has practising her lines every night this week.(1)
(b)They had been swim for an hour before the storm arrived.(1)
(c)We have been study hard for the test.(1)
(d)He had been run for ten minutes before he noticed the time.(1)
14
Each sentence below uses the wrong tense. Identify the error and rewrite the sentence correctly.
(a)We have been rehearsing the play yesterday.(2)
(b)By the time the bell rang, she practised the piano for an hour.(2)
(c)He has been living in Leeds since he was born, but last year he moves to Manchester.(2)
15
Below is a paragraph with several errors, including some in the perfect continuous tense. Rewrite it correctly, correcting every error you can find.

'the whole team have been training for the tournament since january, by the time we reached the final we has been practising set pieces for weeks the coach were pleased with how hard everyone has been trying.'
(6)
16
Complete each sentence with your own idea, using the tense named correctly.
(a)I have been ___ (finish with something you have been doing this week, using the present perfect continuous) since Monday.(1)
(b)By the time the final bell rang, the pupils ___ (complete with your own past perfect continuous verb phrase).(1)
17
Write two sentences of your own about getting ready for an event, such as a performance, a match or an exam. Sentence 1 must use the present perfect continuous tense. Sentence 2 must use the past perfect continuous tense.
(4)
18
A backstage diary entry includes the sentence: 'I had been shaking backstage for almost twenty minutes.' Explain one reason the writer might have chosen the past perfect continuous tense here, rather than the simple past tense ('I shook backstage for twenty minutes').
(2)
19
Write a short diary entry (approximately 70-100 words) about a moment before or during a performance, competition or event that made you nervous. Your writing must include: at least two present perfect continuous verb phrases (has/have been plus an -ing verb) and at least two past perfect continuous verb phrases (had been plus an -ing verb). Underline each of these verb phrases in your answer.
(10)
Mark scheme · Y7.3 Present and Past Perfect Continuous

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Question 19