8.4 The present perfect continuous Presentation

You will hear a conversation between Alan and his flatmate, Charles. Listen to the conversation and answer the questions.

1. What has Charles been doing all day ?

2. What three things has he done ?

3. How much has he written so far ?

4. What hasn’t he done yet?

5. What is the difference between the Present Perfect Continuous (have been doing) and the Present Perfect Simple (have done) ?

Make sentences from the phrases below. Which can you use with have done ? Which can you use with have been doing ? Which can you use with either ?

read take photographs

read a book take several photographs

read two books visit museums

do the washing-up visit two museums and an art gallery wash all the glasses

8.5 Recent activities Practice

Work in groups. Ask each other questions as in the example. Give as many different explanations as you can.

Example A: Why are your eyes all red ?

В: I’ve been crying.

C: I’ve been peeling onions.

D: I’ve been watching Love Story on television.

A sk why:

1. your hair’s wet

2. you’re out of breath

3. you’ve got oil on your hands

4. your hands are shaking

5. your face is red

6. you’ve got blood on your hands

7. there’s sawdust on the floor

   What do you think these people

   (a) have been doing recently ? (b) haven t been doing recently?

   1. E ric has put on six kilos.

   2. Samantha has lost her suntan.

   3. Michael’s got severe toothache.

   4. Janice isn’t going to pass her exam.

8.6 Recent activities and achievements Practice

Work in pairs.

Example A: You look tired. What have you been doing?

В: I’ve been redecorating my flat.

A:	How much have you done? How far have you got with it?

В: Well, so far I’ve done the ceiling and I’ve papered the walls, but I haven’t painted the woodwork yet.

Have conversations like this about:

1. cleaning the living room 2. typing letters 3. revising for the exam 4. building a house

5. making the supper 6. getting the flat ready for a party 7. organising your brother’s wedding

Work in groups. Tell each other what you have really been doing recently, and what particular things you have done.

8.7 A busy time Writing

Here is a part of a letter:

In the same way, choose one of the sentences below, and develop it into a paragraph.

1. I’ve been getting my life organised recently.

2. I’ve been finding out about holiday jobs over the past couple of weeks.

3. I’ve been keeping very fit lately.

4. I’ve been living a wild life for the past three months.