Present perfect continuous

We use present perfect continuous as follows:

1- actions started in the past and continuing up to the present.

e.g. It has been raining all night.(it’s wet and still raining heavily)

2- past actions of certain duration(-ing) having visible results or

effects in the present.

e.g. He has been running. (he is out of breath, now)

3- emphasis on duration of an action, using for, since or how long

e.g. How long have you been working here?

I have been working here for five years. (we are in 2011)
I have been working here since 2007. (we are in 2011)

4- actions expressing anger, irritation, annoyance, criticism or

explanation.

e.g. Someone has been putting on my trainers! (annoyance)

I have been tidying the attic. (explanation)

Structure:

Affirmative: have/has been+ verb(ing)

Negative: haven’t/hasn’t been+ verb(ing)

Interrogative: Have/Has+ Subject+ been+ verb(ing)

Time Expressions:

For, since, how long, all…… (day/ night/…),today, etc.

I- Match the sentences with the correct description:

1-... Oh, the kitchen is completely upside down. Who has been cooking?!

2-... I've been reviewing for the English test since this morning.

3-… I've only been teaching for 5 years.

4-...Who has been playing with water here! It’s completely wet!

a- actions expressing anger, irritation, annoyance, criticism or explanation.

b- emphasis on duration of an action, using for, since or how long
c- actions started in the past and continuing up to the present.
d-past actions of certain duration(-ing) having visible results or effects in the present.

II-Write the correct form of present perfect continuous:

1- What /you/ do/ when the accident occurred?

…………………………………………………………………………………

2- He/ work / here since 2000.

………………………………………………………………………………….

3- We/wait / here for twenty minutes and nobody has taken our order yet

…………………………………………………………………………………

4- I /consider/ moving house because I / become /dissatisfied with the

neighbourhood recently.

………………………………………………………………………………….

5- She looks really great! She/do /exercises at the fitness centre.

…………………………………………………………………………………

6- I am fed up! I / look for/ a new job for weeks in vain.

…………………………………………………………………………………
III-Negate the following:
1- You /get/ good marks over the last few months.
………………………………………………………………………………….

2- We /work/ all week. We are on strike.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

3- She /talk/to me for days.

………………………………………………………………………………….

4- They/ prepare/this project for months but for weeks only.

…………………………………………………………………………………

5- She / wash up /for two hours, she has been playing on the computer.

……………………………………………………………………………………

IV- Write the interrogative form:

1- Ruby has been eating too much fried food for the last two weeks?
…………………………………………………………………………………....

2- I have been watching TV since 5pm because I have nothing to do.

…………………………………………………………………………………….

3- Tamara has been studying seriously for 5 hours.

……………………………………………………………………………………

4- Pele has been playing football for a long time.

……………………………………………………………………………………

5- We have been waiting for him for over an hour!

……………………………………………………………………………………

VI- Choose the correct answer:

1- Stevie …………on the phone for about an hour.

a- has been talking

b- has talked

c- is talking

2- Janet…………...if you run you may catch her.

a- has been leaving

b- has left

c- has just left

3- When I was alone in the dormitory room, I………………to anyone for

hours.

a- haven’t spoken

b- haven’t spoke

c- haven’t been speaking

4- The cat…………..five kittens.

a- has had

b- has been having

c- has have

5- Mrs. Simpson……well recently. She…….the doctor three times.

a- hasn’t been feeling a’-has been seeing

b- hasn’t felt b’- has seen

c- has been feeling c’- hasn’t seen

Difference in use between Present Perfect continuous and
Present Perfect

Present Perfect continuous

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

e.g. She has been sleeping for twelve hours.(she is still sleeping at
the moment of speaking- continuing up to the present)

Present Perfect

2- Complete past actions connected to the present with stated/unstated

time reference.

e.g. She has slept for twelve hours. (she is looking sleepy and tired -
but she got up now)

VII-Write the present perfect continuous or present perfect :

A-

1-When I arrived, he……………….(just/leave).

2-They…………………. (argue) for hours, no way to calm them down.

3-She………………………. (never/clean) her car by herself.

4-We……………….……….. (study) for three hours then we went out.
5-He……………… (not/do) the homework but he……………. (practice)
the flamenco dance since I left him at six.
B-

Dear Samantha,

I……………... 1(travel) on that flight from Lisbon to London and

everything seemed to be quite normal when suddenly the pilot declared
that the plane ……………2(change) its direction for some troubles.
He…………. .3(urge) us not to panic, he then added that the plane was
kidnapped .

The kidnappers………….4 (seize) the plane by force. They were

armed of course. They…………….5(threaten) and…………..6(intimidate)
the passengers all the time through showing their criminal intentions to
kill anyone who moves. Their leader meanwhile was negotiating the
release of their “Brothers” from the prisons in Britain.

They……….7(shoot) an elderly before my eyes. I…………….8(be)

extremely terrified. They…………….9(be) violent. Now that everything is
over I……………….….10(realize) to what extent we might be credulous,
I……………………….… 11(think) that there doesn’t exist any place safe
enough for anybody. Thanks to God’s providence, I am still alive.

Yours faithfully,

Sally

VIII-Write for, since or how long.

1- A: ......................have you been working in this company?

B: ………… twenty three years.

A: Quite a long time………....then.

2- It’s not my turn to clean the kitchen, I have been doing it…………this

Morning.
Answers:

I- Match the sentences with the correct description:

1- a 2- b 3- c 4- d

II-Write the correct form of present perfect continuous:

1-What have you been doing….?
2-has been working
3- has been waiting
4- have been considering
5- has been doing
6- have been looking for

III-Negate the following:

1-haven’t been getting
2- haven’t been working
3-hasn’t been talking
4- haven’t been preparing
5- hasn’t been washing up

IV- Write the interrogative form:

1- Has Ruby been eating…………………………………?

2- Why have you been watching TV………………….…?

3- How long has Tamara been studying……………..…?

4- How long has Pele been playing football……………?

5- How long have you been waiting for…………….……?

V- Choose the correct answer:

1- a 2- c 3- c 4- a 5- b - b

VII-Write the present perfect continuous or present perfect :

A-

1- has just left

2-have been arguing

3-has never cleaned

4-have studied

5-hasn’t been doing - has been practising

B-

1-have been travelling

2-has has changed

3-has urged us

4-have seized

5- have been threatening

6-intimidating/ have been intimidating

7-have shot

8-have been

9-have been

10-have realized

11-have been thinking

VII-Write for, since or how long.

1- How long 3-since

4- since 4- since