Present perfect continuous: form Present perfect continuous: meaning Time expressions Explanations The present perfect continuous is formed with the present perfect of be, and the ing form of the verb. I've been waiting here all morning. What have you been doing lately? Thaven’t been sleeping well recently ‘The present perfect continuous, like the present perfect, describes past event: which are connected to the present. But in the continuous form there is a meaning of an action or situation in progress. What have you been doing lately? I've been working a lot How long have you been living here? = The present perfect continuous can emphasize the length of time of the action, I’ve been waiting here all morning, I've been feeling ill for weeks. = The present perfect continuous can emphasize that the action is temporary. I’ve been staying in a hotel for the past month. = The present perfect continuous can be used for repeated actions, I've been phoning her for days, but she’s never at home. = The action may be finished or continuing, we only know by the situation. Carlos has been studying English for two years and now he’s stopped! What shame. Carlos has been-studying English for two years. He's going to do an exam ne: year. Typical time expressions that are used with the present perfect continuous include all day, all morning, for days, for ages, lately, recently, since, forPresent perfect or present perfect continuous? Other problems GRAMMAR 7 PRESENT PERFECT 2 Often there is very little difference between the two tenses: I've worked/been working here for two } I’ve lived/been living here for two years “ars We often use the present perfect if our attention is on the finished result, but the present perfect continuous if our attention is on the action. I’ve written that email to Jackie. I was meaning to do it for ages. I’ve been writing that email to Jackie and it’s taken an hour! I’m exhausted! If we give details of how many or how much we do not use a continuous form I’ve written four emails. I’ve done a lot of cooking and cleaning this afternoon. Present simple or present perfect? We use the present simple to describe habits or states in the present, but we use the present perfect to describe the time until the present. I live in Prague. (a permanent state ~ I always live there) I’ve lived in Prague for two years, (1 arrived two years ago and still live there) Pa ‘The past simple describes an event in a completed time period. The present perfect is used for a time period that includes the present, ived in Prague in the nineties. (now 1 live somewhere else) ve lived in Prague since the nineties. _({ still ive there) simple or present perfect? ‘The choice of tense often depends on whether our attention is in the past or the present. Thad an umbrella, but I left it on the bus. (the event is distant in my mind) Oh no! I’ve left my umbrella on, the bus. (the event is present in my mind) have been and have gone If we have been to a place, we went there and have now returned. If we have gone to a place, we went there but have not returned. Melissa has been to China. (and she has come back) Melissa has gone to China. (and she is still there) ~SEEALSO | Se Grammar 4: Past time 1INTERMEDIATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE | Lael t(a} 1 Underline the correct word or phrase in each sentence. a) [ live here/L’ve lived here since the end of last year. b) P’'m afraid the last train left/has left an hour ago. ©) Someone has just stolen/has just been stealing my bicycle 4) Thank you for your offer, but I decided/I’ve decided not to accept. €) Yesterday I lost/I've lost my wallet f) Take your umbrella with you. It started/It’s started raining. g) We're enjoying our trip. We visited/IVe've visited two countries so far. h) I’m standing here/I’ve been standing here for hours and | feel tired. i) This was/has been a busy day and it isn’t over yet! j) [feel really tired. We went/We've been to a party last night. 2 ut each verb in brackets into either the present perfect, past simple or present simple. a) Last week I (lose) last, .. my scarf, and now I (just lose) Me just. lost my gloves. b) TF qwork) ... for Blue Bank at the moment but | (decide) to change jobs. ©) We (be) so here for hours. Are you sure we (come) i ine to the right place? ) (you see) my calculator? I'm sure I (leave) it here earlier, e) We (have) ... some coffee and then (catch) the bus home. 8) L (never eat) .. .. octopus, but once on holiday I (eat) . some squid. 8) 1 (hope) you aren’t a vegetarian. 1 (cook) you some lamb chops. h) Recently a lot of young people (take up) kite surfing, i) When we (reach) .. the cinema, there (not be) any tickets Left, j) Please come quickly! Nick (have) an accident, anc he (go) soesseeues tO hospital— GRAMMAR 7 PRESENT PERFECT 2 Complete each mini-dialogue by putting the verbs given in brackets into either the present perfect or present perfect continuous. a) A; Terminator 2 is on at the Rex? (you see) ... AYE, B: No, not yet. Shall we go? I (look forward) ...YE. to seeing it for ages. b) A: What's the matter? You look really tired! B: Lam! I (study) ........ all day, and | (not finish) yet. A: Oh well, time for a break. ©) A: L(phone) ‘Carol all day, but there’s no reply. B: Lexpect she (go) .. swimming with her friends. d) Az (You ear) sone the news? B: What news? A: Someone (rob) the bank at the end of the road. ©) A: Why is your leg in plaster? B: That's a silly question! { (break) .. Bi it, of course. A: Someone (write) Break Time’ on the plaster! For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using no more than three words. a) I came to live here three months ago. 1 ve. been. living. here for three months. b) Sophie is out at the shops at the moment Sophie .. to the shops. c) I've had French lessons since March I a French since March. d) I'm still reading this book. . sss Feading this book yet. ¢) Paul left the room a moment ago. Paul has 7 the room. f) It’s ages since I last went to the cinema. ee to the cinema for ages. g) This is the first time I’ve eaten snails. < ne snails before. h) don’t remember Helen’s phone number. Toe ae Helen’s phone number.INTERMEDIATE LANGUAGE PRACTICE 5 Complete each sentence with one suitable word. We've had a very interesting trip (a) ....£9 far, and we've had some interesting adventures (b) vaou the last time we wrote. We've © sues to Some beautiful islands, and (a) alot of interesting people. In fact (@) .... we've made friends with some people in a village, and they've been (P)..-.-. us the local language haven't managed to learn much (8) ... , but Ann (h) picked up quite a lot, and can speak well. She's been (i) sues OVELY | and she's (j) me everything she knows! 6 Underline the errors in these sentences. Rewrite each sentence. a) My penfriend is writing to mé for years. My penfriend has been. writing 0 me. far years. b) We have started this course-three weeks ago. ) ‘What have you been doing all day?’ ‘I've been written letters.” d) When have you arrived in this city? ¢) You have ever been to India? f) Paula has been stayed in a hotel by the sea: ) ['ve been feeling ill three weeks ago. h) I live in this city since I was born i) wait here for ages. Where have you been? ony has leaved his books on the bus. 28