3. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
This tense is used to talk about an action or actions that started in the past and continued until
recently or that continue into the future ( connection to the present)
2 main meanings:
PAST NOW FUTURE
I---1 h-----2 h-----3h-------4h-I
Unfinished actions- present perfect continuous
I’ve been painting the house for 4 hours ( emphasis on duration: it took me 4 hours)
I’ve been decorating the house this summer ( emphasis on action: decorating)
Completed actions- present perfect
I’ve painted the house blue ( RESULT: it’s blue---I’ve finished painting)
finished
4. WATCH THIS VIDEO EXPLANATION OF THE PRESENT
PERFECT AND CONTINUOUS
Listen to an interview about a musician
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1-XMTx5fik
Thanks to Jennifer ESL.
NOW DO SOME EXERCISES AND THE TESTS.
Exercises on Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Progressive
Result or duration: Exercise 1
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro/exercises
Certain verbs:Exercise 3
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro/exercises?ex03
Completion or duration: Exercise 4-
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro/exercises?ex04
5. EXERCISES
Result or side effect: Exercise 6
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro/exercises?ex06
Mixed Exercises:
Exercise 10, http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-
preperpro/exercises?ex10
Exercise 11
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro/exercises?ex11
6. Do these tests online and check your
answers.
TEST 1:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-
up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro/tests?test1
TEST 2:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-
up/grammar/prepersim-preperpro/tests?test2
7. REFERS TO: ACTION THAT HAS FINISHED BUT YOU CAN STILL SEE
THE EVIDENCE
Oh, the kitchen is a mess. Who has been cooking?
You look tired. Have you been sleeping properly?
I've got a stiff neck. I've been working too long on
computer.
A: You look exhausted. What have you been doing?
B: I’ve been sightseeing in the town. I’ve been
walking all afternoon.
8. REFERS TO: AN ACTION THAT HAS NOT
FINISHED
I've been learning Spanish for 20 years and I still don't know
very much.
I've been waiting for him for 30 minutes and he still hasn't
arrived.
He's been telling me about it for days. I wish he would stop.
9. REFERS TO: A SERIES OF ACTIONS
She's been writing to her regularly for a couple of years.
He's been phoning me all week for an answer.
The university has been sending students here for over
twenty years to do work experience.
10. ACTIONS THAT ARE STILL HAPPENING
How long have you been living here? For 3 months.
How long have you been working in your company?
Since I was 25 years old.
11. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS AND
TEMPORAL PHRASES
The present perfect continuous is often used with
'since', 'for', 'all week', 'for days', 'lately', 'recently',
'over the last few months'.
I've been wanting to do that for ten years.
You haven't been getting good results over the last few
months.
They haven't been working all week. They're on strike
He hasn't been talking to me for weeks.
We've been working hard on it for ages.
I've been looking at other options recently.
He's been working here since 2001.
12. WHERE’S THE FOCUS?
UNFINISHED ACTION VS. FINISHED RESULT
1. The focus is on the ACTION – decorating – and
the action is unfinished.
I’ve been decorating the bedroom all morning.
2. The focus is on the FINISHED RESULT. The
activity is finished but we can see the result now.
I’ve decorated the bedroom this morning.
13. Result / Completion of action or duration?
WHAT/ HOW MUCH/HOW MANY? VS. HOW LONG?
In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in
meaning:
We use the Present Perfect Simple to emphasise the result.
We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasise the duration or
continuous course of an action.
RESULT:(What/How many) I have written 5 letters. / I have been to
London twice.
I have done my homework. (Meaning: My homework is completed now.)
DURATION(how long)I have been writing for an hour.
I have been doing my homework ( Meaning: That’s how I have spent my
time. It does not matter whether the actino is completed or not.)
14. CONTINUOUS TENSES AND NON-ACTIONVERBS
Certain verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Present
Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form).
state: be, have (for possession only)
Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.
senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He has touched the painting.
brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I have known him for 3 years
EXCEPTION: Work and live can be used with both tenses
15. SPEAKING: frequently used questions
How long have you been learning English?
For ------years. ( For + period of time)
Since + year, month,etc. ( Since+ point in time)
What have you been doing? The kitchen is a mess!
Hi. You look exhausted…What have you been doing?
I‘ve been working in the garden
