Present Perfect Continuous

Part I

Forming the Present Perfect Continuous

Exercise 1.1

Complete the sentences with a verb in the Present Perfect Continuous tense form.

argue	do	increase	live
make	ring	shout	study
surf	think	try	work

1. I have been making a pie. That’s why my hands are all covered with flour.

2. His mobile … for fifteen minutes. I wonder why he doesn’t answer it.

3. He … extra hours. That’s why he looks so tired.

4. You … English for a year and don’t even know the alphabet!

5. We … about it for the past three hours and haven’t come to an arrangement yet.

6. You … at each other for over an hour. Perhaps you should stop now.

7. I … to upgrade my computer recently. I’ve spent a fortune!

8. You are shaking like a leaf. I wonder what you … .

9. He … in Seattle for a few months.

10. I … of buying a netbook lately.

11. The world population … very fast recently.

12. You … the Internet for the last four hours! Isn’t it time to stop?

Exercise 1.2

Complete the questions. Put the verbs in the Present Perfect Continuous.

1. Your clothes stink! What have you been doing (do)?

2. Why are your hands dirty? … (mend) the washing machine?

3. I’m a receptionist. – How long … (work) as a receptionist?

4. Sorry I’m late. … (wait) long?

5. The ground is wet. … (rain)?

6. Sandra is hot and tired. … (play) tennis?

7. My brother has just come home. … (fish) all day long?

8. George has a black eye and Harry has a cut lip. … (fight)?

9. Betty’s eyes are red. … (cry)?

10. Tom has just come from the beach. … (lie) in the sun?

11. Your boyfriend’s hands are covered in oil. … (repair) the car?

12. I can’t go out. I’m looking after my sister’s baby. – How long … (look after) her?

Exercise 1.3

Match a line in A with a line in B and write sentences about Laura.

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

A		B
Laura is tired Laura is tired because she’s been pottering in the garden. She is crying Her flat smells of onions and garlic Her flat is so clean and tidy Her clothes are wet She is furious She is sunburnt She is out of money Her eyes hurt She’s got paint on her clothes	b ecause	bathe her kids clear up the mess cook paint the walls potter in the garden read for two hours shop sunbathe wait for a bus for an hour watch a soap opera