Present Perfect Progressive and Present Perfect LESSON 2

EXPLORE

CD1-13
1 READ the magazine article about Helen Thayer. What advice does she have for
other people?

Helen Thayer: A Lifelong Adventurer

Helen Thayer has never let age stop her. She and
her husband, Bill, fulfilled a lifelong dream for their
40th wedding anniversary. They walked 1600 miles
(2575 kilometers) in intense heat across the Gobi Desert.
There they met Mongolian nomads1 and learned about their
culture. To celebrate 50 years of marriage, the Thayers walked
almost 900 miles (1448 kilometers) across the Sahara Desert
to study the customs of the people who live there. Now in her
seventies, Thayer keeps on planning trips for the future.

Thayer, born in New Zealand, has been exploring

the outdoors for most of her life. Since childhood, she
has traveled widely in harsh climates and across rough
lands. She has walked to the North Pole with her dog as
her only companion. She has also kayaked 2200 miles
(3541 kilometers) down the Amazon, and done several
mountain climbs. These trips haven’t been easy, but
they’ve been very satisfying.

In recent years, Thayer has been talking to groups around the world. She has continued
to travel and bring back stories to share with both children and adults. Thayer hopes to inspire2
people to follow their passions and fulfill their dreams.3 What is her advice? Set
goals, plan for success, and never give up.

1
nomads: people who move from place to place instead of living in one place
2
inspire: to make someone want to do something
3
fulfill one’s dream: to manage to do what you hoped you would do

The Gobi Desert covers parts

of Mongolia and China

Unit 2 Lesson 2 41
 2 CHECK. Read the statements. Circle T for true or F for false.

1. Helen Thayer and her husband drove across two deserts. T F

2. As a child, Thayer liked the outdoors. T F

3. The trips have been in one part of the world. T F

4. Thayer has traveled down the Amazon River. T F

5. Thayer has stopped traveling in recent years. T F

3 DISCOVER. Complete the exercises to learn about the grammar in this lesson.

A Read the sentences from the article in exercise 1. Notice the words in bold. Is the action
completed or possibly still in progress? Choose the correct answer.

1. Thayer, born in New Zealand, has been exploring the outdoors for most of her life.

a. completed b. possibly still in progress

2. She has walked to the North Pole with her dog as her only companion.

a. completed b. possibly still in progress

3. She has also kayaked 2200 miles down the Amazon . . .

a. completed b. possibly still in progress

4. In recent years, Thayer has been talking to groups around the world.

a. completed b. possibly still in progress

B Work with a partner. Compare your answers from exercise A. What do you notice about the
verb forms used for actions that are possibly still in progress? Discuss your ideas with your
partner.

The Red Cliffs, Gobi Desert,

Mongolia

42 Present and Past: Perfect and Perfect Progressive

LEARN

2.4 Present Perfect Progressive

statements
Subject + Have/Has ( Not ) + Been + Verb + -ing
Affirmative I have been waiting for my friend for an hour.
Negative Tom hasn’t been sleeping enough this term.

Questions answers
( Wh-) + Have/Has + Subject + Been + Verb + -ing
Yes/No Have you been working for a long time? Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.
Wh- What has Raul been reading lately? A lot of short stories.

Who/What + Has + Been + Verb + -ing

Who or What
Who has been managing the lab? Luz and Jun have.
as Subject

1. Use the present perfect progressive for ongoing

I’ve been working
actions that started in the past and continue in
the present. now
I’ve been working on my research paper.

2. The present perfect progressive is often used

a. with for or since a. They have been studying Spanish for years.
b. without for or since to emphasize that the b. The chef’s been working hard. It’s the busy
action happened recently or is temporary season.
c. for repeated actions that started in the past c. I’ve been texting Jose all day. He hasn’t
and continue in the present replied to any of my messages.

3. Remember: The progressive is not usually used ✓ She has known him since college.
with stative verbs. ✗ She has been knowing him since college.

4 Complete the conversations with the words in parentheses. Use the present perfect
progressive.

Sasha: How long (1) have you been going (you / go) on long-distance hikes?
Gina: Since I was in college. And I’m now in my sixties.
(2) (my husband / hike) since he was a
child.

Sasha: (3) (it / get) easier or more difficult for

you to hike long distances these days?

Gina: Well, I’d say that lately (4) (we / work)

harder to keep up with the younger people on the hikes, but I don’t think
(5) (we / cause) any problems or delays!

Unit 2 Lesson 2 43
 Jack: (6) (you / enjoy) yourselves on the trip so far?

Katya: Oh, yes. (7) (we / have) a wonderful time.

Jack: So what (8) (you / do) during your stay

here in town?

Katya: Well, (9) (we / visit) museums and

(10) (take) tours of the major sights.

2.5 Present Perfect Progressive and Present Perfect

1. The present perfect is used for completed I’ve read the chapter. I’m ready to discuss it.
actions. Jill has made five phone calls.

The present perfect progressive is used for I’ve been reading the chapter. I’m almost finished.
continuous actions that are not complete. Jill has been making phone calls for two hours.

2. The present perfect and present perfect Tony has lived in New York for ten years.
progressive have similar meanings with some He has been living in New York for ten years.
verbs that express routines, such as live, work,
and teach.

3. The present perfect is often used to express the How many cookies has he eaten?
idea of how many or how much. He has eaten five cookies.

The present perfect progressive is often used to How long have you been playing the piano?
express the idea of how long. We have been playing for a long time.

4. Remember: The progressive is not usually used ✓ I have loved that movie since I was a child.
with stative verbs, ✗ I have been loving that movie since I was a child.

5 Read the sentences. Circle Y for yes or N for no to answer the questions.

1. a. Tony has set high goals for himself. Is he still setting goals? Y N

b. Nick has been setting high goals for himself. Is he still setting goals? Y N

2. a. We’ve been counting votes for hours. Are they counting now? Y N

b. We’ve counted the votes. Are they counting now? Y N

3. a. Dana has lost 35 pounds. Is she still losing the 35 pounds? Y N

b. Dana has been losing weight. Is she still losing weight? Y N

4. a. I’ve been working in a store this summer. Is he still working? Y N

b. I’ve worked in the store for 25 years. Is he still working? Y N

6 Complete the exercises.

A Circle the best answer to complete each question.

1. How long have you taken / been taking classes at this school?

2. How many friends have you made / been making since you started studying here?

44 Present and Past: Perfect and Perfect Progressive