The present perfect continuous tense

PEG 190-1

Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect continuous tense

I (make) cakes. That is why my hands are all covered with flour.

Her phone (ring) for ten minutes. I wonder why she doesn't answer it.

He (overwork). That is why he looks so tired.

4 There is sawdust in your hair. ~

I'm not surprised. I (cut) down a tree.

Have you seen my bag anywhere? I (look) for it for ages.

6 What you (do)? ~

I (work) in the laboratory.

He (study) Russian for two years and doesn't even know the alphabet yet.

8 How long you (wait) for me? ~

I (wait) about half an hour.

It (rain) for two days now. There'11 be a flood soon.

We (argue) about this for two hours now. Perhaps we should stop

I (bathe). That's why my hair is all wet.

You (drive) all day. Let me drive now.

How long you (wear) glasses?

The petrol gauge (say) 'Empty' for quite a long time now. Don't think we should get some petrol?

I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I (try) to make a telephone call Rome.

You (not eat) enough lately. That's why you feel irritable,

He (speak) for an hour now. I expect he'll soon be finished.

That helicopter (fly) round the house for the last hour; do you think it's taking photographs?

19 The radio (play) since 7 a.m. I wish someone would turn it off.

20 I (shop) all day and I haven't a penny left.

21 We (live) here since 1977.

22 I'm on a diet. I (eat) nothing but bananas for the last month.

23 The children (look) forward to this holiday for months.

24 That pipe (leak) for ages. We must get it mended.

25 Tom (dig) in the garden all afternoon and I (help) him.

26 I (ask) you to mend that window for six weeks. When are you going to do it?

27 Someone (use) my bicycle. The chain's fallen off.

28 How long you (drive)? ~
I (drive) for ten years.

29 The trial (go) on for a long time. I wonder what the verdict will be.

30 It (snow) for three days now. The roads will be blocked if it doesn't stop soon.

31 Mary (cry)? ~
No, she (not cry), she (peel) onions.

32 The car (make) a very curious noise ever since it ran out of oil.

33 He walked very unsteadily up the stairs and his wife said, 'You (drink)!'

34 Your fingers are very brown. You (smoke) too much.

35 You usually know when someone (eat) garlic.

36 Ever since he came to us that man (try) to make trouble.

The present perfect and the present perfect continuous

PEG 191-2

Put the verbs in brackets into the present perfect or the present perfect continuous tense.

(In some cases either could be used.)

We (walk) ten kilometres.

We (walk) for three hours.

You (walk) too fast. That's why you are tired.

I (make) sausage rolls for the party all the morning.

5 How many you (make)? ~
I (make) 200.

That boy (eat) seven ice-creams.

He (not stop) eating since he arrived.

The driver (drink). I think someone else ought to drive.

I (pull) up 100 dandelions.