Evolve Digital Level 3 – English 3

Grammar summary
Unit 8 Lesson 1: Present perfect continuous
• Use the present perfect continuous for an action or event that started in the past
and continues into the present time.
• Use have or has plus been plus a verb with -ing to make affirmative statements.
• Use haven't or hasn't plus been plus a verb with -ing to make negative
statements.
• For questions, use have or has at the beginning.
• For short answers, use:
Yes, I have. / Yes, she has.
No, I haven't. / No, he hasn't.
• You often use the present perfect continuous with the adverbs lately and
recently. They usually go at the end of the sentence.
• You can use the words only and also with the present perfect continuous, too.
These words usually go before been.

Examples:
“I’ve been building a city.”
“He’s been designing the buildings.”
“She’s been coming up with really creative ideas.”
“Have you been doing anything exciting lately?”
“I haven't been sleeping very well recently.”
“I've also been texting Lara all morning.”

Unit 8 Lesson 2: Present perfect vs. present perfect continuous

• Use the present perfect to focus on the result of an activity that started in the
past.
• You can also use the present perfect with yet for things that have not happened,
but you expect to happen.
• You can also use the present perfect with already when something happens
sooner than expected.
• You can use the present perfect to talk about how many times something has
happened up to now.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment © 2022 1

• Form the present perfect with have or has plus the past participle.
• Use the present perfect continuous when to talk about an unfinished activity
that started in the past.
• Form the present perfect continuous with have or has plus been plus a verb with
-ing.

Examples:
“I’ve booked a trip to Paris.” (The focus is on a result.)
“My vocabulary has improved a lot since I started using this app.” (The focus is on a
result.)
"I've already taken the exam three times." (The focus is on a result.)
“I’ve been learning Spanish for about five years.” (The focus is on an unfinished
action.)
“I’ve been using a language app on my phone for a few months now.” (The focus is
on an unfinished action.)

Cambridge University Press & Assessment © 2022 2