FORM

AFFIRMATIVE Subject+ have/has+ been + the ing form of the verb. NEGATIVE Subject+ havent / hasnt + been + the ing form of the verb. INTERROGATIVE Have / Has+subject+ been + the ing form of the verb.

USE OF THE TENSE

We use the present perfect continuous to talk about an action over a period of time leading up to the present:
Ive been waiting for 10 minutes. They have been studying the whole afternoon. Ive been repairing the car. Thats why my clothes are dirty.

Time expressions

FOR- SINCE
She has been going to university for 3 years now/ since 2006.

We can also use the present perfect continuous to talk about repeated actions up to the present moment:
I have been learning English since I started school. (Im still

HOW LONG We use how long in questions:

How long has she been living here?

In the above examples the action is still going on. We can also use this tense to talk about an action which ends just before the present:

LATELY/RECENTLY

learning English)

These both mean in the last few days or weeks:

They have been spending their holidays in Spain since they were born.

I have been working very hard lately/recently.

Complete the sentences using a suitable verb from the list in the Present Perfect Continuous. RUN CARRY THINK TRAIN TALK SURF PLAY LEARN TRY DIG WAIT SUNBATHE WORK ARGUE STAY READ

WATCH STUDY

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Hes really tired. He ________________________the whole morning. Fred _________________ on the phone for over 1 hour. Mark __________________ the Internet since he arrived at the office. He ________________ a hole in the garden to bury something secret. Paul is not working. He ________________ the paper since he arrived. John ________________ to get to the meeting on time. Thats why He _______________ about a new idea for his novel but hasnt come Adam _________________ basketball since he was 12. The coach ________________ with the player since the match started.

hes sweating.
7.

up with one yet.

8. 9.

10. Peter _____________ very hard to win todays swimming competition. 11. George _________________ to play chess for over 1 year but he is not

very good at it yet.

12. Tom __________________ the match on TV since he arrived home. 13. The tourist _______________ to talk to the gua rd but he doesnt

reply.
14. Jim __________________ at the beach since he started his holidays

last week.
15. Hes desperate. He ________________ for over an hour and his

girlfriend hasnt arrived yet.

16. He ________________ big boxes the whole morning. Thats why he is

so tired and hot.

17. Andy _______________ for the exam since the beginning of this week. 18. My grandmother ________________ in hospital since she had the

accident last month.