- •Методические указания
- •Часть I Новополоцк 2003
- •Contents
- •Unit 1 Grammatical Structure of the English Language
- •Sentence Structure
- •The Verb Group
- •Simple and Continuous Aspects Stative and Dynamic Verbs
- •Unit 2 Talking About the Present
- •Unit 3 talking about the future
- •Contrast: ‘be going to’-future versus Present Continuous as future
- •Contrast: ‘be going to’ versus ‘will’
- •Contrast: Future Continuous versus Future Simple
- •Future Perfect Simple and Continuous
- •Other ways of referring to the future
- •Unit4 talking about the past
- •Unit 5 past indefinite and past progressive Past Indefinite
- •Past Progressive
- •Sentence patterns with Past Simple and Past Progressive
- •Unit 6 present perfect and present perfect progressive Present Perfect
- •Present Perfect Progressive
- •Present Perfect versus Past Simple
- •Unit 7 past perfect and past perfect progressive
- •Unit 8 means of expressing future actions
- •Viewed from the past
- •Unit 9 the rules of the sequence of tenses
- •Unit 10 reporting what people say or think
- •Unit 11 passive voice
- •Forms of the Passive.
- •Meaning and use.
- •Passive constructions.
- •Agents and objects with the Passive.
- •Prepositions with the Passive.
- •Not using the Passive.
- •Causative. Structures with ‘get, have, make’.
- •Unit 12 tag questions and echo questions
- •Types of tag questions
- •Tag questions with a falling intonation.
- •Tag questions with a rising intonation.
- •Tag questions with a rising intonation.
- •Tag questions with a falling intonation.
- •Echo Tags
Present Perfect Progressive
The Present Perfect Progressive is used:
to refer to an activity which has been taking place in the recent period up to the present and of which some evidence still remains. The activity may have finished shortly before the moment of speaking or finish at the moment of speaking.
You look tired. What have you been doing?
I’ve been playing squash.
Have you had a good evening?
Well, I’ve been watching this film on television but it’s rubbish, so I think I’ll turn it off now.
They have been going out a lot recently.
with since, for and how long to refer to an activity which started in the past and continues up to the present and possibly into the future. Also it is used with phrases starting with all (all day / night / morning), phrases which emphasize the duration of the activity.
They’ve been studying English for three years.
John’s been looking for a job since he finished university.
How long have you been feeling so depressed?
Sentences with since can be of 2 grammatical structures depending on their sense:
Past Simple after since indicates the starting point of the action in the principal clause.
He’s been reading since he came here.
Present Perfect Continuous is used in both clauses to express 2 parallel actions that began at the same time.
He’s been reading since he’s been working in the library.
to talk about a series of repeated actions that have been carried on up to the present, expressed as a continuous action. Note that the Present Perfect Continuous expresses an action which is apparently uninterrupted.
I’ve been phoning her but I think she must be out.
to refer to an activity which is temporary rather than permanent
Jack has been living with us since he came to England.
Remember that a number of verbs are not normally used in the continuous form, but that some of these can be used in this form in certain cases. We can therefore say:
Tom has been seeing about a work permit for you.
She has been having a tooth out.
I’ve been thinking it over.
I’ve been hearing all about his operation.
Also the verbs mean, want and wish can be used in this tense. The usage of these verbs in this form is rather emphatic.
There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you for ages.
Thank you so much for the binoculars. I’ve been wanting a pair for years.
Contrast: the Present Perfect Simple versus the Present Perfect Continuous
An action which began in the past and is still continuing or has only just finished can, with certain verbs, be expressed by either the Present Perfect Simple or the Present Perfect Continuous. Verbs which can be used in the way include expect, hope, learn, lie, live, look, rain, sleep, sit, snow, stand, stay, study, teach, wait, want, work.
How long have you learnt English?
How long have you been learning English?
The Present Perfect Continuous can be used with or without time phrases. In this way it differs from the Simple Present Perfect, which can only express this type of action if a time phrase is added such as for six days, since June, never. When used without a time expression of the kind, the Simple Present Perfect refers to a single completed action.
A repeated action in the Simple Present Perfect can sometimes be expressed as a continuous action by the Present Perfect Continuous.
I have knocked five times. I don’t think anyone is in.
I’ve been knocking. I don’t think anybody’s in.
The Present Perfect Continuous expresses an action which is apparently uninterrupted; we do not use it when we mention the number of times a thing has been done or the number of things that have been done. Thus, with the Present Perfect we are interested in the results of an action, while with the Present Perfect Continuous – in the action itself.
There is a difference between a single action in the Simple Present Perfect and an action in the Present Perfect Continuous.
I’ve polished the car. (means that this job has been completed)
I’ve been polishing the car. (means ‘this is how I spent the last hour’; it doesn’t necessarily mean that the job is completed)
Note also that a single action in the Present Perfect Continuous continues up to the time of speaking or nearly up to this time.
He’s been taking photos. (he’s probably still carrying the camera)
He’s taken photos. (this action may or may not be very recent)