The present perfect continuous tense

HAVE (HAS) BEEN + V + ING

Exercise 1. Comment on the use of the Present Perfect Continuous in the following sentences.

1. I’ve been waiting an hour and a half for you. 2. He’s been working here since 198O. 3. I haven’t seen him since last month. 4. How long have you been doing this translation? 5. Peter, I have been looking for you everywhere. 6. Call the children in. They’ve been playing outside since early morning. 7. The girl feels very tired. She has been working very hard. 8. This hat isn’t new at all! I’ve been wearing it for years! 9. We’ve been discussing this matter for hours already. 10. Since when have you been living in Moscow? 11. How long have you been wearing this suit? 12. You’ve been smoking too much recently. You should smoke less. 13. They have been studying English for three years. 14. Julia has been working at the same office since she graduated from university.

Exercise 2. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Perfect Continuous.

1. He (work) here for many years. 2. I (live) in New York two years. 3. He (drink) coffee every day for many years. 4. I (wait) here for ten minutes. 5. What you (look for) all this time? 6. I (try) to reach you by telephone for an hour. 7. They (talk) for more than twenty minutes. 8. Henry (work) at the post-office since 1987. 9. I (try) to get a god job for many months now. 1O. Are you writing a letter? How long you (write) and when will you have finished it? 11. Since when you (speak) French? 12. Frank (go out) with Sally for three and a half years. 13. What work you (do) in college lately? 14. Our neighbours (argue) all day. 15. Ricky (talk) to his girl-friend all morning. 16. Carlos (study) at the University for six months.

Exercise 3. Put in since or for .

1. I’ve been reading this book ... last week. 2. He’s been working on the problem ... three years. 3. They’ve been listening to music ... 3 hours now. 4. Mary has been baking cakes ... nine o’clock this morning. 5. My grand- mother has been staying with us ... Christmas. 6. They have been building the new bridge ... two years. 7. He has been teaching them Spanish ... ten years now. 8. The baby has been crying ... her mother left home. 9. I’ve been flying in airplanes ... years. And believe me, there’s nothing to be nervous about. 10. They have been redecorating this house ... 1990. 11. Mother has been looking for you ... ten o’clock. 12. The students have been writing the test ... 3 hours. 13. She has been waitng for you ... your lesson began. 14. Jack has been having a bath ... half an hour. 15. Mother has been cooking dinner ... 10 o’clock.. 16. Mike has been watching TV ... he came home.

Exercise 4. Use the Present Perfect Continuous in the following sentences. Make use of the adverbial modifiers suggested in brackets.

Model: They are playing tennis now. (since lunch time)

They have been playing tennis since lunch time.

1. They are watching TV now. (since 6 o’clock) 2. I’m looking for my dictionary.(all morning) 3. I’m writing a letter to my friend.(since I returned home) 4. The students are writing a dictation now.(for 15 minutes) 5. Nick is walking his dog now.(since 3 o’clock) 6. John is recording a new song.(since morning) 7. It’s snowing hard.(since yesterday) 8. I’m looking for a book which I’ve put somewhere.(since I returned from the office) 9. She is teaching them how to do it.(for years) 1O. Bob is trying to get in touch with the police (since lunch time) 11. Toby is training at the stadium(since morning) 12. She is wearing a brown hat today.(for 3 years) 13. They are making tractors at this factory.(since 1965) 14. The baby is crying.(all the morning) 15. She is waiting for you in the hall.(for 20 minutes) 16. I’m reading for my exam.(for two days)

Exercise 5. Combine the sentences into one by using the Present Perfect Continuous.

Model: It started raining last Sunday. It’s still raining.