Present Perfect Continuous Tense - Practice (MCQ) - CAT MCQ

Explanation:
The correct sentence is A: "I've been working in the garden all day and now I'm tired." Here's why:
1. Present Perfect Continuous Tense: This tense is used to describe an action that started in the past, continued up until the present moment, and may continue into the future. It emphasizes the duration of the action.
2. Use of "have been + verb-ing": In sentence A, "I've been working" is the present perfect continuous tense. It shows that the action of working in the garden started in the past and has continued up until now.
3. Duration of the action: Sentence A mentions "all day," indicating that the person has been working in the garden for the entire day. This emphasizes the duration of the action and is more appropriate for the present perfect continuous tense.
4. Result of the action: Both sentences mention "now I'm tired." However, in sentence A, the use of the present perfect continuous tense suggests that the person is tired as a result of the continuous action of working in the garden. This connection between the duration of the action and the current state is more accurate.
5. Understanding intent: Sentence A conveys the idea that the person has been actively engaged in the action of working in the garden throughout the day, leading to their current state of tiredness. Sentence B, on the other hand, simply states that the person worked in the garden without emphasizing the continuous aspect of the action.
In conclusion, sentence A is the better and more likely choice as it accurately uses the present perfect continuous tense to convey the duration and result of the action.

What have you been doing? You’re all wet is more likely to the another one.

I’ve finished my homework. Now I’m going to watch TV is more suitable.

Analysis of the two sentences:

• Sentence A: What have you done with my keys? - I haven't seen your keys.


• Sentence B: What have you been doing with my keys? - I haven't seen your keys.

Explanation:

• Sentence A uses the simple past tense ("have you done") to inquire about a completed action in the past.


• Sentence B uses the present perfect continuous tense ("have you been doing") to inquire about an ongoing action that started in the past and may still be happening.


• In this context, both sentences convey a similar meaning, but sentence A is more likely to be used.


• Sentence A implies that the speaker is asking about a specific action or event that has already happened, and they are looking for information about the outcome.


• Sentence B implies that the speaker is asking about the ongoing activity of using the keys, which might not be a common situation.


• Since the speaker hasn't seen the keys, it is more appropriate to use the simple past tense to inquire about the completed action of using the keys.

Therefore, sentence A ("What have you done with my keys?") is the better and more likely option in this context.

Comparison of the Sentences:

• Sentence A: She's worked in the garden all morning and she's still not finished.


• Sentence B: She's been working in the garden all morning and she's still not finished.

Explanation:

• Tense: The sentences are in the present perfect tense.


• Usage: Both sentences describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing.


• Meaning: Both sentences convey that the woman has been working in the garden for the entire morning and has not finished yet.

Difference:

• Sentence A: Uses the simple past tense ("worked") to describe the action.


• Sentence B: Uses the present perfect continuous tense ("been working") to describe the action.

Reasons for Choosing Sentence B as the Better Option:

• Emphasis on Duration: Sentence B with the present perfect continuous tense emphasizes the continuous nature of the action, indicating that the woman has been actively working in the garden for the entire morning.


• Relevance to the Present: Sentence B suggests that the woman's current state (still not finished) is a result of her continuous effort in the garden.


• Contextual Clues: The use of the present perfect continuous tense in Sentence B aligns with the expectation that an ongoing action is described when the duration is mentioned ("all morning").

Therefore, Sentence B is the better and more likely option as it provides more information about the ongoing nature of the action and its relevance to the present.

Explanation:

Identifying the Correct Sentence:

• Both sentences A and B are grammatically correct and convey the intended meaning.


• However, sentence B is more likely to be the better option for the following reasons:

Using the Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

• Sentence B uses the present perfect continuous tense ("I've been cutting") to indicate an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has just recently stopped.


• This tense is suitable for describing the act of cutting the grass, which is a continuous activity.


• It implies that the person has been cutting the grass for some time, which is why they are sweating.

Using the Simple Present Tense:

• Sentence A uses the simple present tense ("I've cut") to indicate an action that happened in the past and has a result in the present.


• While this tense is grammatically correct, it does not convey the ongoing nature of the activity.


• It implies that the person has finished cutting the grass and is currently sweating as a result of that completed action.

Overall:

• Since cutting the grass is an ongoing activity, sentence B using the present perfect continuous tense is more likely to be the better option.


• It accurately reflects the ongoing nature of the action and the reason for the person's sweating.

How many biscuits have you eaten is the more appropriate sentence.

How long have you known her is more likely than the other.

As there is no activity that has been going on so the present perfect tense will be used in the statement.
I’ve had this computer for over 10 years.
 

Explanation:

• Sentence A: "I've had piano lessons for over 10 years and I'm still not very good."


• Sentence B: "I've been having piano lessons for over 10 years and I'm still not very good."

Reasons why Sentence B is the better or more likely:

• Continuous action: The use of the present perfect continuous tense in Sentence B ("I've been having") suggests an ongoing and continuous action of having piano lessons for over 10 years. This implies a continuous effort to improve piano skills over time.


• Emphasizes duration: The use of the present perfect continuous tense also emphasizes the duration of the action, indicating that the person has been consistently taking piano lessons for over 10 years.


• Implication of effort: Sentence B implies that despite the person's continuous effort of having piano lessons for a long period, they are still not very good. This suggests that they have been actively working towards improvement but haven't achieved the desired level of proficiency.


• More natural expression: Sentence B sounds more natural and commonly used when talking about a continuous action that started in the past and is still ongoing.

Therefore, Sentence B is the better or more likely option.