Present Perfect Continuous

form

He has been drinking.

He has been drinking.

1 2 3

He has been drinking.

1. ‘to have’auxiliary

in present:have / has

He has been drinking.

2. ‘to be’auxiliary

past participle:been

He has been drinking.

3. main verbpresent participle:

—ing

period to the present

It’s been raining for 3 hours.

It’s been raining for 3 hours.

It started raining 3 hours ago

It’s been raining for 3 hours.

It started raining 3 hours agoand it’s still raining now

this is the same concept as the Present Perfect Simple

I live in Rome (present duration)

I live in Rome (present duration)+ for 22 years (period)

I live in Rome (present duration)+ for 22 years (period) = I’ve lived in Rome for 20 years (present perfect)

It’s raining (present duration)

It’s raining (present duration)+ for 3 hours (period)

It’s raining (present duration)+ for 3 hours (period) = It’s been raining for 3 hours (present perfect continuous)

the Present Perfect Simple describes longer,more permanent

periods

the Present Perfect Continuousdescribes shorter,more temporary

periods

Present Perfect Simplevs.

Present Perfect Continuous

1. state verbs

I know her.

I know her.-- how long --

I know her.+ only 5 minutes

I know her.or

I know her.+ 15 years

I’ve only known herfor 5 minutes.

or

I’ve known herfor 15 years.

I’ve only known herfor 5 minutes.

short temporary

period

I’ve known herfor 15 years.

long permanent

period

I’ve (only) known herfor 5 minutes / 15 years.

short or long periodthe tense is simple

I’ve (only) known herfor 5 minutes / 15 years.

short or long periodthe tense is simple

because ‘know’ is a state verb

I’ve only known herfor 5 minutes.

state verbs never used in continuous

tenses

2. long period

She works at IBM.

She works at IBM.-- how long --

She works at IBM.+ 10 years

She’s worked at IBMfor 10 years.

She’s worked at IBMfor 10 years.

longpermanent

period

She’s worked at IBMfor 10 years.

‘simple’for long period

She’s been working at IBMfor 10 years.

BUT

She’s been working at IBMfor 10 years.

in spoken English the ‘continuous’ is

also possible

3. short periods

We’re waiting

We’re waiting-- how long --

We’re waiting+ 15 minutes

We’ve been waitingfor 15 minutes.

We’ve been waitingfor 15 minutes.

shorttemporary

period

We’ve been waitingfor 15 minutes.

‘continuous’for short period

summary

state verbs long periods short periods

present I know her. She works at IBM. We’re waiting.

‘simple’ I’ve known herfor 5 minutes.

She’s worked at IBM for 10 years.

-

‘continuous’ - (She’s been working at IBM for 10 years.)

We’ve been waiting for 15 minutes.

it’s the present tense verb that decides

state verbs long periods short periods

present I know her. She works at IBM. We’re waiting.

‘simple’ I’ve known herfor 5 minutes.

She’s worked at IBM for 10 years.

-

‘continuous’ - (She’s been working at IBM for 10 years.)

We’ve been waiting for 15 minutes.

NB. negatives

She’s been checking her emailall day.

BUT

I’m not checking my email.

I’m not checking my email-- how long --

I’m not checking my email+ the start of the lesson

I haven’t checked my emailsince the start of the lesson

I haven’t checked my emailsince the start of the lesson

NOTI haven’t been checking

use the Present Perfect SimpleNOT the Continuousfor negative periods

to the present

present perfect simple or continuous (or both)

She has worked / has been working since 3pm.

They haven’t studied / haven’t been studying for 3 days.

I have wanted / have been wanting this CD since it came out.

They have waited / have been waiting for 30 minutes.

How long has he studied / has he been studying English?

He has studied / has been studying economics since 2011.

I have had / have been having this computer for 2 weeks.

We have walked / have been walking for 4 hours.

How long have you lived / have you been living in Rome?

It hasn’t rained / hasn’t been raining since lunchtime.

She has played / has been playing tennis since 1999.

present perfect simple or continuous (or both)

She has worked / has been working since 3pm. cont. in present

They haven’t studied / haven’t been studying for 3 days. negative

I have wanted / have been wanting this CD since it came out. state verb

They have waited / have been waiting for 30 minutes. short period

How long has he studied / has he been studying English? cont. in present

He has studied / has been studying economics since 2011. cont. in present

I have had / have been having this computer for 2 weeks. state verb

We have walked / have been walking for 4 hours. cont. in present

How long have you lived / (have you been living) in Rome? long period

It hasn’t rained / hasn’t been raining since lunchtime. negative

She has played / (has been playing) tennis since 1999. long period

recent past

someone’s been eatingmy sandwich!

Goldilocks grammar!

…Goldilocks fell asleep. And as she was sleeping, the three bears came home.

"Someone's been eating my porridge," growled Papa bear."Someone's been eating my porridge," said Mama bear."Someone's been eating my porridge and they’ve eaten it all up!" cried Baby bear.

"Someone's been sitting in my chair," growled Papa bear."Someone's been sitting in my chair," said Mama bear."Someone's been sitting in my chair and they've broken it all to pieces," cried Baby bear.…

…Goldilocks fell asleep. And as she was sleeping, the three bears came home.

"Someone's been eating my porridge," growled Papa bear."Someone's been eating my porridge," said Mama bear."Someone's been eating my porridge and they’ve eaten it all up!" cried Baby bear.

"Someone's been sitting in my chair," growled Papa bear."Someone's been sitting in my chair," said Mama bear."Someone's been sitting in my chair and they've broken it all to pieces," cried Baby bear.…

someone’s been eatingmy sandwich

emphasis onincomplete activity

someone’s eatenmy sandwich

emphasis onconclusion

"Someone's been eating my porridge and they’ve eaten it all up!"

Baby Bear wants to emphasise both

activity and conclusion

emphasis on conclusion also means number

John’s been eating the cheese.

He’s drunk 2 bottles of wine.

John’s been eating the cheese.

He’s drunk 2 bottles of wine.

incompleteactivity

John’s been eating the cheese.

He’s drunk 2 bottles of wine.

conclusion (number)

present perfect simple or continuous

I have cleaned / have been cleaning the windows.I have done / have been doing four. There’s just one left.

You have done / have been doing Module 6.

You have done / have been doing Module 7.You have done / have been doing the first 5 exercises.

I have read / have been reading three books this week.

She has written / has been writing emails today.

How many chapters have you studied / have you been studying?

He hasn’t done / hasn’t been doing all the exercises.

He’s had / been having trouble with his computer recently.He can’t send emails.

She has memorised / has been memorising verbs.But she hasn’t learnt / hasn’t been learning very many.

present perfect simple or continuous

I have cleaned / have been cleaning the windows.I have done / have been doing four. There’s just one left.

unfinished;number

You have done / have been doing Module 6. conclusion

You have done / have been doing Module 7.You have done / have been doing the first 5 exercises.

unfinished;number

I have read / have been reading three books this week.conclusion(number)

She has written / has been writing emails today. activity

How many chapters have you studied / have you been studying?

conclusion(number)

He hasn’t done / hasn’t been doing all the exercises.conclusion(number)

He’s had / been having trouble with his computer recently.He can’t send emails.

unfinished

She has memorised / has been memorising verbs.But she hasn’t learnt / hasn’t been learning very many.

unfinished;number

transitivevs.

intransitive

I’ve been writing a lot recently.

I’ve written a lot recently.

I’ve been writing a lot recently.

I’ve written a lot recently.

intransitive verb

I’ve been writing a lot recently.

I’ve written a lot recently.

emphasis on activity

I’ve been writing a lot recently.

I’ve written a lot recently.

emphasis on conclusion

I’ve been writing a lot recently.

I’ve written a lot recently.

what’s the present consequence

?

I’ve been writing a lot recently.

I’ve written a lot recently.

activity:my wrist hurts

I haven’t been readingetc

I’ve been writing a lot recently.

I’ve written a lot recently.

conclusion:I’ve finished a lot of pages

etc

present perfect simple or continuous

She [talk] a lot.Now she has a sore throat.

The Oracle [speak].She won’t speak again for a long time.

He [study] very hard.And he’s ready for the exam.

They [not study].They might not pass the exam.

I [read] a lot.Now my eyes are tired.

I [read] everything on the subject.Now I know it all.

She [write] to everyone in her class.Each person got a personalised card.

I [write] my thesis.It’s going well.

present perfect simple or continuous

She has been talking a lot.Now she has a sore throat.

activity

The Oracle has spoken.She won’t speak again for a long time. conclusion

He has studied very hard.And he’s ready for the exam.

conclusion

They haven’t been studying.They might not pass the exam.

activity

I have been reading a lot.Now my eyes are tired.

activity

I have read everything on the subject.Now I know it all.

conclusion

She has written to everyone in her class.Each person got a personalised card.

conclusion

I have been writing my thesis.It’s going well.

activity

experience recent past period to the present

present perfect simple

I’ve been to Paris. Someone’s eaten my sandwich.

She’s worked for IBM for 10 years.

present perfect continuous

- Someone’s been eating my sandwich.

It’s been raining for 3 hours.

homework

module 7, parts 6, 7, 11

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