Are the answers I chose correct. My choices are in bold.
I have been pumping/I have pumped up three tyres. Would you like to do the forth?
I have been greasing/I have greased my car. That's why my hands are dirty.
She has been polishing/has polished this table all the morning and she is not satisfied with it yet. ( I chose both answers as correct, but accroding to the test my answer was wrong.)
I only have been hearing/have heard about him twice since he went away.
He has been riding /has ridden, that's why he is wearing breeches.
I have been pulling up/have pulled up dandelions all day. ( I chose both forms)
I have been hearing/ have heard from her regularly. She is a very good correspondent.(I chose both forms)
I have been making/have made sausage rolls for the party all the morning.(I chose both, but I am not sure 'have made' is correct.)
How to explain why using other choices would be wrong?
Best Answer
The present perfect continuous is, in most cases, used to describe an action that is ongoing:
means: "I have pumped, but I'm not done yet; I'm still pumping."
By contrast, the present perfect is used to describe an action that has ended:
means: "I've spent all day pulling up dandelions, but now the day is done, and my task is over."
For almost all of the sentences you give, I could imagine different contexts in which one of the two choices would be acceptable. It all depends on the context. That said, I would favour the following:
The latter question seems to imply that the first three tyres are now properly pumped up. Now, someone has to pump the fourth one up.
The fact that she is not yet satisfied with it yet seems to imply that she is still working on it. The task is ongoing; therefore, the present perfect continuous should be used.
The use of "only" here implies that the present perfect must be used rather than the present perfect continuous.
He's still wearing breeches, which may imply that he's not done riding.
That last statement indicates that communication with her has not stopped, but is ongoing; therefore, use the present perfect continuous.
EDIT: However, there are exceptions. The present perfect continuous does not always describe an action that is ongoing. Here is an example:
Here, when the question is asked, the drinking has presumably already come to an end.