Present perfect continuous
1. Formation:
e.g. It has been raining cats and dogs all day.
He has been waiting for you for 6O years.
He has been trying to phone her for 3 hours.
I have been going out with her since June.
to have +
It has
He has
He has
I have
past participle ‘to be’ +
been
been
been
been
ing-form
raining
waiting
trying
going out
2. Use
e.g. (1.) We have been looking for the thieves since the day of the robbery.
Since = indication for pres. perf. cont.
e.g. (2.) I’ve been trying to call the director for more than two hours now.
We use the present perfect continuous:
 To talk about recent actions and situations with a result in the present. (e.g. 1)
 We use the present perfect continuous tense when we want to stress the duration of
the action.
Since and for
Since
e.g. I’ve been working there since last June.
for
e.g. I’ve been working their for a year.
 since + starting point
 for + period
2
Compare the ‘present perfect simple’ to the ‘present perfect continuous’. Can you find a
resemblance? Can you find a difference?
Present perfect simple
e.g. I’ve worked on several TV-programmes.
(So I have some experience of TV programming
now = result)
Present perfect continuous
e.g. I’m tired. I’ve been working on that project again.
(Why am I tired? Because I’ve been working on that project
again = ACTIVITY)
 To focus on the RESULT of a completed
activity
 To focus on the ACTIVITY, the activity may or may not
be completed.
 to stress duration
 To talk about recent actions and situations that have result in the present.
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3. Exercises.
1. Say what these people have been doing. Use these verbs: argue, cook, drive, wait, work.
e.g. Andrew is tired because he has been working all day.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Trevor and Laura are upset because they have been arguing.
David is hot because he has been cooking.
Mark feels very stiff because he has been driving all day.
Henry is annoyed. He has been waiting a long time for Claire.
2. How long have you been doing all these things? Complete the questionnaire.
How long have you been
a. working in a garage?
Since
e.g. I’ve been working in a
garage since this morning.
For
e.g. I’ve been working in a
garage for a day.
b. jogging with your
friend?
c. writing for the school
magazine?
d. waiting for you train?
e. riding that old bike?
f. sleepwalking?
g. living in that small
village?
h. drinking beer?
i. smoking cigarettes?
3. Present perfect or Present perfect continuous?
Read the dialogues and underline the correct tenses, then practise saying the dialogues in
pairs.
e.g. A. What on earth have you done/been doing? You’re filthy.
B. I’ve fixed/been fixing the car.
1. A: I’ve been looking/looked for you all morning.
Have you spoken/been speaking to Michael yet?
B: No, I haven’t had/been having time.
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2. A: It’s very quiet in here. What is everybody up to?
B: Oh, they’ve played/been playing computer games all afternoon.
3. A: Have you heard/been hearing the news?
B: About the bomb? Yes. They’ve just arrested/been arresting two suspects.
4. A: Hi, I haven’t seen/been seeing you for ages.
What have you done/been doing?
B: Nothing interesting. I have worked/been working too hard.
5. A: Have you seen/been seeing my car keys
anywhere?
B: No. You haven’t lost/been losing them again, have
you?
6. A: Have you finished/been finishing you exams yet?
B: Yes, and I’ve passed/been passing them all!
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4. Describe the picture. What has she been doing?
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a5. Present perfect ‘fives’.
Fill in the dots as you like while using the correct tense.
1.
He’s hot and
sweaty because
…
2.
… but I didn’t
enjoy it.
3.
… for as long
as I can
remember.
6.
Exams can be
worrying unless
…
11.
I was going to
the cinema but
…
16.
… and bought
three cd’s.
7.
… since he was
ten ears old.
8.
Who…?
12.
Where …?
13.
… to marry him
for ages!
17.
She can’t
understand why
…
22.
What on earth
…?
18.
… so I won’t be
able to come to
the party.
23.
… but I can’t
make him
believe me.
21.
All over the
world,
computers …
4.
The travel
agent’s offering
cheap flights, so
…
9.
I just can’t talk
to her when …
5.
My dog’s not
eating her food,
so …
19.
… since the
beginning of this
year.
24.
Working hard
…
20.
Why …?
10.
… but I still
can’t learn
multi-verbs.
14 .
15.
… about visiting Fish and chips
the pyramids.
…
Answers ( the pupils normally receive the answers afterwards)
7
25.
… for £ 9,000.