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Present Perfect Continuous

The document discusses the present perfect continuous tense in English. It describes the affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms. It then provides two main uses: 1) to show an action that started in the past and continues to the present, often using durations like "for five minutes"; and 2) to talk about recent or frequent actions, often using words like "lately" or "recently". It gives examples for both uses and then compares the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous tenses.

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78 views3 pages

Present Perfect Continuous

The document discusses the present perfect continuous tense in English. It describes the affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms. It then provides two main uses: 1) to show an action that started in the past and continues to the present, often using durations like "for five minutes"; and 2) to talk about recent or frequent actions, often using words like "lately" or "recently". It gives examples for both uses and then compares the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous tenses.

Uploaded by

delika12
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE INTERROGATIVE


SB + HAVE /HAS BEEN + SB + HAVEN’T/ HASN’T BEEN HAVE / HAS + SB +VB+ing
VB+ing + VB+ing

Statement: You have been waiting here for two hours.


Question: Have you been waiting here for two hours?
Negative: You have not been waiting here for two hours.

Present Perfect Continuous Uses


USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the present perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until
now. For five minutes, for two weeks, and since Tuesday are all durations which can be used with the present
perfect continuous.

Examples:
They have been talking for the last hour.
She has been working at that company for three years.
What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
James has been teaching at the university since June.
We have been waiting here for over two hours!

USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the present perfect continuous WITHOUT a duration such as for two weeks. Without the
duration, the tense has a more general meaning of lately. We often use the words lately or recently to
emphasize this meaning.

Examples:
Recently, I have been feeling really tired.
She has been watching too much television lately.
Have you been exercising lately?
Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
What have you been doing?
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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 car 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.

1. We (to paint)………………. the fence since morning.


2. She (to watch) …………….this film for 2 hours.
3. My father (to do) ……………shopping since 3 p.m.
4. I (to learn)…………… Japanese for 5 years.
5. The cat (to chase)…………….. a mouse since afternoon.
6. The dog (to chase)………….. his favourite snack since morning.
7. I (to read) ……………the book for 3 days.
8. he (to drink)………….. tea for half of an hour?
9. The teacher (to have)…………. the lesson for 30 minutes.
10. He (to live) ……………in Paris for 10 years.
11. He (to eat)……….. the soup for 15 minutes.
12. My friend (to learn)………. English since last year.
13. It (to rain)……….. since morning.
14. My mother (to cook) ……………a dinner since 7 p.m.
15. They (to knock)………….. the door for 15 minutes .
16. The phone (to ring) …………since evening.
17. How long you (to take)………………… these pills?

Translate into English


1. Se uită la film de mai bine de 1 oră.
2. De cât timp lucrează ca doctor?
3. Chris încearcă să-și repare mașina de marți.
4. Joacă tenis de la 4 după-masa.
5. Ei studiază de la micul dejun.

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PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE VS CONTINUOUS

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS


1. for actions recently completed 1. for actions which started in the past and
They have made a lot of exercises. continue up to the present
They have been making exercises since 8 o’clock.
2. for actions which happened at an unstated time 2. for past actions of certain duration which have
in the past visible result or effects in the present
James has bought a new car. Bob is very tired. He has been working all day long.
3. to express personal experiences or changes 3. to express irritation, anger, annoyance,
which have happened explanation or criticism
I’ve lost a lot of weight. Who has been reading my papers?
4. To put emphasis on number 4. to put emphasis on duration, usually with
I’ve only typed three letters since 9 o’clock. FOR, SINCE, HOW LONG
I’ve been typing letters since 9 o’clock.
just, ever, never, always, already, yet, since, far, how for, since, how long
long, recently, today, this week, this month, once,
twice

Use the present perfect simple or continuous


a) Maria Harris _____________(stay) in a rented flat since returning to Liverpool.
b) We _________________________(stay) at this hotel a couple of times before.
c) With their win yesterday, Italy ____________________ (move) into second place in the table.
d) As house prices in the cities have raised, people __________ (move) into the countryside.
e) All day, the police _______ (stop) motorists to question them about the accident.
f) Good, the noise ________________ (stop) I can start concentrating on my work again.
g) I ______________________________ (not/read) any of Dickens' novels.
h) I ______________ (read) this book on astrophysics for hours and I'm still only on page 6.
i) Dr Fletcher ___________ (give) the same lecture to students for the last ten years.
j) Mr Goldman ________________ (give) nearly a million pounds to the charity this year.
k) I did 20 lengths of the pool today. I _________ (not/swim) that far since I was at school.
l) I _______ (swim) and I feel exhausted.
m) In recent years, Brazilian companies ______ (put) a lot of money into developing advanced technology
n) The South African coal company _______ (put) the Calverton Mine up for sale.
o) An important file ______________________________ (disappear) from my office.
p) Plants and vegetables _________ (disappear) from my garden since we had new neighbours
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