I have been reading
He has been reading
She has been reading
It has been reading
We have been reading
You have been reading
I have not been
He has not been
She has not been
It has not been
We have not been
You have not been
reading reading reading reading reading
Have
Has
Has
Has
Have
Have
Have
I been reading?
he been reading?
she been reading?
it been reading?
we been reading?
you been reading?
they been reading?
I've been reading She hasn't
She's been reading We haven't
been reading been reading
THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Inclusive
denotes an action which began in the past, has been going on up to the present and is still going on.
Exclusive
denotes an action which was recently in progress, but is no longer going on at the present moment.
It is usually used with:
- since,
-for.
□ I have been learning English for 10 years.
□ I have been learning Spanish since we last met and have made some progress in it. It is rendered in Russian
by tf>e present.
□ There are puddles everywhere. It has been raining hard.
It is rendered in Russian by the past.
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NOTE: The verbs not used in the Continuous form cannot be used in the Perfect Continuous form either.
In this case we use the Perfect form: □ I have known him since last year.
EXERCISES ______________________________________________________________
Ex. 1. (A, B) Put the verb in brackets into the Present Perfect Continuous.
1.1 (work) on this problem for two months. 2. She (sleep) all this time? 3. You (talk) this nonsense all day long. 4. "Any news about your latest project?" - "I just (tell) about it." 5. He says he (not/feel) well for the past week. 6. You are red all over. How long you (lie) in the sun today? 7. I (try) to get you all day, George! 8. I (not/sleep) well for months. 9. We (see) each other regularly since the party at Helen's. 10. "Jack isn't working now." -"He (not/work) for years."
Ex. 2. (A, B) Make up sentences using the Present Perfect Continuous.
Example: Suzy is in her riding boots, (she/ride) - She has been riding.
You are dirty all over. What (you/do) - What have vou been doing?
1. Have a rest now. (you/work too hard/lately)_______________________________
2. You are shivering, (you/stand/in this cold/long?)___________________________
3. Her hands are red and wet. (she/scrub/the floors/for three hours) _____________
4. The children are quite voiceless, (they/sing at the top of their voices/since morning)
Ex. 3. (A, B) Translate into English.
1. Ты давно меня ждешь? 2. Вы опять дрались? 3. Как давно у вас болит нога? 4. Он занимается уже три часа. 5. Я учу испанский с сентября. 6. Анна ищет работу шесть месяцев. 7. Мой брат курит десять лет. 8. Они работают в Манчестере с 1 марта. 9. Какой глубокий снег! Сколько времени шел снег? 10. У тебя глаза красные. Ты плакала? 11. С какого возраста ты играешь в шахматы? 12. Как давно вы живете в этом городе?
8.2 THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS AND PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
COMPARE:
| The Present Perfect Continuous how long? □ I have been writing it for an hour. |
The Present Continuous when? - (now)
□ What are you writing?
□ I am writing a letter.
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EXERCISES
Ex. 4. (A, B) Open the brackets.
1. There is nobody in that room.____________ you (read) detective stories again? 2. What
______________ you (do) here? 3. He_____________ (do) his lessons since after lunch.
4. "Where's Fred?" - "He_____________ (work) in the garden. He______________ (plant)
rose bushes since dawn." 5. All things in the drawing-room are out of place. The children
______________ (play) hide-and-seek! 6.1______________ (think) of your aunt's proposal
since we last met. 7. Where you______________ (swim) at this early hour of the day? 8. We
______________ (stay) at the Regent Hotel; won't you come and see us? 9. For a week now
those mice______________ (steal) food from the pantry. 10. Down by the pine woods they
______________ (lay) out a new road.