Intermediate Grammar
Master English grammar one unit at a time. Clear notes, then 40+ interactive exercises with instant feedback – based on the topics in English Grammar in Use (Intermediate).
Perfect: Cont. or Simple?“been doing / done” – 44 interactive questions
📖 Grammar Reference – Perfect: Cont. or Simple?
Study the notes, then work through the six exercises.
1 Tier 1 – The Concept & Nuance: Activity vs Completed Result
Compare the two forms: the continuous focuses on the activity itself and how long it has been happening (it may not be finished), while the simple focuses on the result and how much/how many times (completed).
– Question: “How long have you been writing?”
– Question: “How many pages have you written?”
2 Tier 2 – How Long vs How Many / How Much
| How long…? | Continuous: “How long have you been reading that book?” |
| How many / how much / how many times…? | Simple: “How many chapters have you read?” / “How much money have you saved?” |
3 Tier 3 – Top 3 Common Learner Pitfalls
– Rule: When stating the exact quantity or count (five cups), use present perfect simple.
– Rule: Completed countable output requires present perfect simple.
– Rule: Instantaneous milestone events (break, stop, die, lose) take the simple form.
Made with care for English learners · allenglish4u.com
Original practice material inspired by the English Grammar in Use syllabus (Cambridge University Press). Example sentences and exercises are written by All English 4U.