PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Actions started in the past and continuing up to the present.

- She has been doing her homework for an hour. (She started an hour ago and she’s still doing it)

Past actions of certain duration having visible results or effects in the present.

- He has been running. That’s why he’s out of breath.

To express anger, irritation, annoyance, explanation or criticism.

- She has been using my make-up. (annoyance)

Present Perfect Continuous is normally used with for, since or how long to put emphasis on duration.

- He has been feeling unwell for days.

TIME EXPRESSIONS USUALLY USED WITH PRESENT PERFECT AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

- Just, ever, never, already, yet (negations and questions)

- Always, How long, So far, Recently, Since (= from a starting point in the past)

- For (= over a period of time)

- Today, this week/month etc.

- For and Since are usually used with Present Perfect Continuous to emphasize the duration of an action

- SINCE expresses the starting point. (two o’clock, last Friday, 1998) E.g: I’ve been here since March.

- FOR expresses the duration of an action. (twenty minutes, two days, one year) E.g: We’ve been here for three months.

Form of Present Perfect Progressive

Positive Negative Question

I / you / we / they I have been speaking. I have not been speaking. Have I been speaking?

he / she / it He has been speaking. He has not been speaking. Has he been speaking?

- Exceptions in Spelling

Exceptions in spelling when adding ing Example

final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed) come – coming (but: agree – agreeing)

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled sit – sitting

l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel – travelling

final ie becomes y lie – lying

Have or Has?

Decide whether to use “have” or “has”.

1. She ________been asking questions all day long.

2. They________been climbing the mountain.

3. We________been washing the dishes.

4. You________been repairing your computer.

5. I________been working.

6. It________been snowing.

7. The boy________been playing.

8. Caty________been dreaming.

9. The men ________been digging a hole.

10. Cindy and Bob________been studying English.

Put the verbs into the correct form (present perfect progressive).

1. He (work)____________________ in this company since 1985.

2. I (wait)____________________ for you since two o'clock.

3. Mary (live)____________________ in Germany since 1992.

4. Why is he so tired? He (play)____________________ tennis for five hours.

5. How long (learn / you)____________________ English?

6. We (look for)____________________ the motorway for more than an hour.

7. I (live)____________________ without electricity for two weeks.

8. The film (run / not)____________________ for ten minutes yet, but there's a commercial break already.

9. How long (work / she)____________________ in the garden?

10. She (not / be)____________________ in the garden for more than an hour.

Decide whether you have to use “since” or “for”.

1. I have been waiting ________4 o’clock.

2. Sue has only been waiting ________20 minutes.

3. Tim and Tina have been learning English________six years.

4. Fred and Frida have been learning French ________1998.

5. Joe and Josephine have been going out together________Valentine’s Day.

6. I haven’t been on holiday________last July.

7. Mary has been saving her money________many years.

8. I haven’t eaten anything________breakfast.

9. You have been watching TV________hours.

10. We have been living here________2 months.

Choose present perfect simple or continuous

1)____________________ (they/arrive) already?

2) Lucy____________________ (run) 2000 metres today

3) I____________________ (clean) all morning - I'm fed up!

4) How long____________________ (you/know) Simon?

5) I____________________ (drink) more water recently, and I feel better.

6) Sorry about the mess! I____________________ (bake).

7) How many times ____________________ (you/take) this exam?

8) He____________________ (eat) six bars of chocolate today

9) Julie____________________ (cook) dinner. Let's go and eat!

10) The students____________________ (finish) their exams. They're very happy

11) The baby's face is really dirty. What____________________ (he/eat)?

12) Iona is exhausted these days. She____________________ (work) too hard recently

13) Luke____________________ (never/be) abroad

14) I____________________ (wait) three hours already!

15) ____________________ (you/finish) your homework yet?

16) How long____________________ (you/be) a lawyer?

17) I ____________________ (read) your book all day. It's very interesting, but I'm only on chapter 2

18) She____________________ (drink) ten glasses of water!

19) I____________________ (have) my dog for sixteen years

20) Help, I____________________ (lose) my wallet. How can I get home?