Period to the present and recent past in the Present Perfect Continuous

1. Present Perfect
Continuous

2. form

3. He has been drinking.

4. He has been drinking.
1 2 3

5. He has been drinking.
1. ‘to have’
auxiliary
in present:
have / has

6. He has been drinking.
2. ‘to be’
auxiliary
past participle:
been

7. He has been drinking.
3. main verb
present participle:
—ing

8. period to the present

9. It’s been raining for 3 hours.

10. It’s been raining for 3 hours.
It started raining 3 hours ago

11. It’s been raining for 3 hours.
It started raining 3 hours ago
and it’s still raining now

12. this is the same concept as the
Present Perfect Simple

13. I live in Rome (present duration)

14. I live in Rome (present duration)
+ for 23 years (period)

15. I live in Rome (present duration)
+ for 23 years (period)
= I’ve lived in Rome for 23 years
(present perfect)

16. It’s raining (present duration)

17. It’s raining (present duration)
+ for 3 hours (period)

18. It’s raining (present duration)
+ for 3 hours (period)
= It’s been raining for 3 hours
(present perfect continuous)

19. the Present Perfect Simple
describes longer,
more permanent
periods

20. the Present Perfect Continuous
describes shorter,
more temporary
periods

21. Present Perfect Simple
vs.
Present Perfect Continuous

22. 1. state verbs

23. I know her.

24. I know her.
-- how long --

25. I know her.
+ only 5 minutes

26. I know her.
or

27. I know her.
+ 15 years

28. I’ve only known her
for 5 minutes.

29. or

30. I’ve known her
for 15 years.

31. I’ve only known her
for 5 minutes.
short
temporary
period

32. I’ve known her
for 15 years.
long
permanent
period

33. I’ve (only) known her
for 5 minutes / 15 years.
short or long period
the tense is simple

34. I’ve (only) known her
for 5 minutes / 15 years.
short or long period
the tense is simple
because ‘know’ is a state verb

35. I’ve only known her
for 5 minutes.
state verbs never
used in continuous
tenses

36. 2. long period

37. She works at IBM.

38. She works at IBM.
-- how long --

39. She works at IBM.
+ 10 years

40. She’s worked at IBM
for 10 years.

41. She’s worked at IBM
for 10 years.
long
permanent
period

42. She’s worked at IBM
for 10 years.
‘simple’
for long period

43. She’s been working at IBM
for 10 years.
BUT

44. She’s been working at IBM
for 10 years.
in spoken English
the ‘continuous’ is
also possible

45. 3. short periods

46. We’re waiting

47. We’re waiting
-- how long --

48. We’re waiting
+ 15 minutes

49. We’ve been waiting
for 15 minutes.

50. We’ve been waiting
for 15 minutes.
short
temporary
period

51. We’ve been waiting
for 15 minutes.
‘continuous’
for short period

52. summary

53. state verbs long periods short periods
present I know her. She works at IBM. We’re waiting.
‘simple’ I’ve known her
for 5 minutes.
She’s worked at IBM
for 10 years.
-
‘continuous’ - (She’s been working
at IBM for 10 years.)
We’ve been waiting
for 15 minutes.

54. it’s the present tense verb that
decides

55. state verbs long periods short periods
present I know her. She works at IBM. We’re waiting.
‘simple’ I’ve known her
for 5 minutes.
She’s worked at IBM
for 10 years.
-
‘continuous’ - (She’s been working
at IBM for 10 years.)
We’ve been waiting
for 15 minutes.

56. NB. negatives

57. She’s been checking her email
all day.

58. BUT

59. I’m not checking my email.

60. I’m not checking my email
-- how long --

61. I’m not checking my email
+ the start of the lesson

62. I haven’t checked my email
since the start of the lesson

63. I haven’t checked my email
since the start of the lesson
NOT
I haven’t been checking

64. use the Present Perfect Simple
NOT the Continuous
for negative periods
to the present

65. present perfect simple or continuous (or both)
She has worked / has been working since 3pm.
They haven’t studied / haven’t been studying for 3 days.
I have wanted / have been wanting this CD since it came out.
They have waited / have been waiting for 30 minutes.
How long has he studied / has he been studying English?
He has studied / has been studying economics since 2011.
I have had / have been having this computer for 2 weeks.
We have walked / have been walking for 4 hours.
How long have you lived / have you been living in Rome?
It hasn’t rained / hasn’t been raining since lunchtime.
She has played / has been playing tennis since 1999.

66. present perfect simple or continuous (or both)
She has worked / has been working since 3pm. cont. in present
They haven’t studied / haven’t been studying for 3 days. negative
I have wanted / have been wanting this CD since it came out. state verb
They have waited / have been waiting for 30 minutes. short period
How long has he studied / has he been studying English? cont. in present
He has studied / has been studying economics since 2011. cont. in present
I have had / have been having this computer for 2 weeks. state verb
We have walked / have been walking for 4 hours. cont. in present
How long have you lived / (have you been living) in Rome? long period
It hasn’t rained / hasn’t been raining since lunchtime. negative
She has played / (has been playing) tennis since 1999. long period

67. recent past

68. someone’s been eating
my sandwich!

70. Goldilocks grammar!

71. …
Goldilocks fell asleep. And as she was sleeping, the three
bears came home.
"Someone's been eating my porridge," growled Papa bear.
"Someone's been eating my porridge," said Mama bear.
"Someone's been eating my porridge and
they’ve eaten it all up!" cried Baby bear.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair," growled Papa bear.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair," said Mama bear.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair and
they've broken it all to pieces," cried Baby bear.
…

72. …
Goldilocks fell asleep. And as she was sleeping, the three
bears came home.
"Someone's been eating my porridge," growled Papa bear.
"Someone's been eating my porridge," said Mama bear.
"Someone's been eating my porridge and
they’ve eaten it all up!" cried Baby bear.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair," growled Papa bear.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair," said Mama bear.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair and
they've broken it all to pieces," cried Baby bear.
…

74. someone’s been eating
my sandwich

75. emphasis on
incomplete activity

77. someone’s eaten
my sandwich

78. emphasis on
conclusion

79. "Someone's been eating my porridge
and they’ve eaten it all up!"
Baby Bear wants
to emphasise both
activity and
conclusion

80. emphasis on conclusion also
means number

81. John’s been eating the cheese.
He’s drunk 2 bottles of wine.

82. John’s been eating the cheese.
He’s drunk 2 bottles of wine.
incomplete
activity

83. John’s been eating the cheese.
He’s drunk 2 bottles of wine.
conclusion (number)

84. John hasn’t been feeling very
well.

85. John hasn’t been feeling very
well.
you can use
negatives in the PPC
for the recent past

86. present perfect simple or continuous
I have cleaned / have been cleaning the windows.
I have done / have been doing four. There’s just one left.
You have done / have been doing Module 6.
You have done / have been doing Module 7.
You have done / have been doing the first 5 exercises.
I have read / have been reading three books this week.
She has written / has been writing emails today.
How many chapters have you studied /
have you been studying?
He hasn’t done / hasn’t been doing all the exercises.
He’s had / been having trouble with his computer recently.
He can’t send emails.
She has memorised / has been memorising verbs.
But she hasn’t learnt / hasn’t been learning very many.

87. present perfect simple or continuous
I have cleaned / have been cleaning the windows.
I have done / have been doing four. There’s just one left.
unfinished;
number
You have done / have been doing Module 6. conclusion
You have done / have been doing Module 7.
You have done / have been doing the first 5 exercises.
unfinished;
number
I have read / have been reading three books this week.
conclusion
(number)
She has written / has been writing emails today. activity
How many chapters have you studied /
have you been studying?
conclusion
(number)
He hasn’t done / hasn’t been doing all the exercises.
conclusion
(number)
He’s had / been having trouble with his computer recently.
He can’t send emails.
unfinished
She has memorised / has been memorising verbs.
But she hasn’t learnt / hasn’t been learning very many.
unfinished;
number

88. transitive
vs.
intransitive

89. I’ve been writing a lot recently.
I’ve written a lot recently.

90. I’ve been writing a lot recently.
I’ve written a lot recently.
intransitive verb

91. I’ve been writing a lot recently.
I’ve written a lot recently.
emphasis on
activity

92. I’ve been writing a lot recently.
I’ve written a lot recently.
emphasis on
conclusion

93. I’ve been writing a lot recently.
I’ve written a lot recently.
what’s the present
consequence
?

94. I’ve been writing a lot recently.
I’ve written a lot recently.
activity:
my wrist hurts
I haven’t been reading
etc

95. I’ve been writing a lot recently.
I’ve written a lot recently.
conclusion:
I’ve finished a lot of pages
etc

96. present perfect simple or continuous
She [talk] a lot.
Now she has a sore throat.
The Oracle [speak].
She won’t speak again for a long time.
He [study] very hard.
And he’s ready for the exam.
They [not study].
They might not pass the exam.
I [read] a lot.
Now my eyes are tired.
I [read] everything on the subject.
Now I know it all.
She [write] to everyone in her class.
Each person got a personalised card.
I [write] my thesis.
It’s going well.

97. present perfect simple or continuous
She has been talking a lot.
Now she has a sore throat.
activity
The Oracle has spoken.
She won’t speak again for a long time.
conclusion
He has studied very hard.
And he’s ready for the exam.
conclusion
They haven’t been studying.
They might not pass the exam.
activity
I have been reading a lot.
Now my eyes are tired.
activity
I have read everything on the subject.
Now I know it all.
conclusion
She has written to everyone in her class.
Each person got a personalised card.
conclusion
I have been writing my thesis.
It’s going well.
activity

98. experience recent past period to the
present
present perfect
simple
I’ve been to Paris. Someone’s eaten
my sandwich.
She’s worked for
IBM for 10 years.
present perfect
continuous
- Someone’s been
eating my sandwich.
It’s been raining for
3 hours.

99. homework

101. www.davidnicholson.it