The Present Perfect Continuous Tense

	statement:	I/You/We/They have been travelling...	He/She/It has been travelling...
	negative:	I/You/We/They haven't been travelling...	He/She/It hasn't been travelling... Has he/she/it been travelling...?
	question:	Have l/you/we/they been travelling...?
Use	Example
Actions continuing up to the present moment	We have been driving for hours. Can't we have a break soon?
Actions stopping just before the present moment	I'm out of breath because I've been running to get here in time.

The present perfect continuous is often used with words and phrases like all day/week/year/etc, for, since, just, etc.

We've been walking for hours and I need a rest.

• The present perfect continuous is not normally used with the words ever and never. Have you ever flown in a helicopter before?

X Have you ever been flying in a helicopter before?

• Sometimes there is very little difference in meaning between the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous and sometimes there is a difference in meaning. I have worked at the airport for four years. = I have been working at the airport for four years. I have read that book about cruise ships. (I have finished it.) ≠ I have been reading that book about cruise ships. (I have not finished it.)

Stative verbs

Stative verbs are not normally used in continuous tenses because they don't describe actions. I see what you mean. X / am se eing what you mean.

1. Put the verb in brackets in the correct form.

1. At last I (do) my homework. I can go for a walk now. 2. The delegation already (arrive) but we (not, speak) with its members yet. 3. Last month I (read) two interesting books but I (not, read) anything so far this month. 4. 'You (make) any spelling mistakes in your test?' — 'No, I (not, make) any mistakes.' 5. 'Where is Jane?' 'She (go) to the shops. She'll be back soon.' 6. 'You ever (be) to the USA?' 'Yes, I (be) to New York several times.' 7. Hello! I've just (be) to the shops. Look! I (buy) lots of things. 8. We (not, see) John this morning but we (see) him a couple of days ago. 9. Harry is ill. He (have) an accident. He (break) his leg. 10. 'You (finish) typing?' 'Not yet. In fact I just (begin).' 11. 'How many records you (bring)?' 'Five'. 12. 'You ever (find) anything valuable?' 'No, I....' 13. 'Mr West (sell) his house yet?' 'Yes, he.... He (sell) it last week.' 'He (move) to his new house yet?' 'No, not yet.'

2. Translate into English.

1. Вы когда-либо играли в шахматы с Виктором? Он хоро­шо играет? — Не знаю. Я никогда с ним не играл. 2. Как поживает Аня? Я ее не вижу в последнее время.— Спасибо, хорошо.— А как Ваш сын? Он уже окончил школу? — Да, он уже студент. 3. Я должна упаковать чемодан.— Не бес­покойся, я его уже упаковал. 4. Моему племяннику только 5 лет, но он уже научился хорошо читать. 5. Вы когда- либо бывали в Англии? — Да, я был там два года назад. 6. Что случилось? — Я разбила свою любимую чашку. 7. Мы купили новый телевизор. Мне он очень нравится. 8. Нина очень расстроена. Она не сдала экзамен. 9. Ник придет на вечер? — Нет, он уехал в командировку. 10. Будем смот­реть сегодня вечером телевизор? — Я его еще не починил. 11. Вы уже подписали документы? — Да, вы можете их забрать.

3. Respond to the following using the Present Perfect and the Past indefinite.

— Why don't you buy this dictionary? (yesterday)

— I've already bought it. I bought it yesterday.

1. Why don't you send her a telegram? (this morning) 2. Will you make tea, please? (a few minutes ago) 3. Do your homework. (before supper) 4. You should read the book. (in summer) 5. Put the towel into the suitcase. (some minutes ago) 6. Why don't you speak to the boss? (the day before yesterday) 7. What about seeing 'Oliver'? (on Tuesday) 8. You should build a garage. (last year) 9. Why don't you phone Peter? (in the afternoon) 10. Tell Dick about the meeting. (last Friday) 11. Why don't you invite the Browns? (yesterday) 12. You must repair the TV set. (yesterday morning) 13. You should book the tickets in advance. (last Saturday) 14. Give her your typewriter for a few days. (yesterday)

4. Say ‘when'.

Henry has fallen ill. He fell ill on Tuesday.

1. They have begun the experiment. 2. I've found my ticket. 3. He has finished the work. 4. They have rung him up. 5. I have written the letter. 6. He has passed his exam. 7. She has paid for the furniture. 8. They have bought a boat. 9. They have seen the museum. 10. The porter has already brought our suitcases. 11. I've lost my umbrella again. 12. They have changed their flat. 13. She has broken her watch. 14. They have got married. 15. I've already had dinner. 16. The delegation has already arrived. 17. The train has left. 18. Victor has gone to Moscow on business. 19. I've already swum in the sea today. 20. Kitty has already woken up. 21. I have sold my garage. 22. I have told Jack about the picnic.

5. Answer the questions using the prompts.

— Has he seen Ann? (yesterday)

— Yes, he saw her yesterday.

1. Have you sold your car? (last month) 2. Have you spoken Jack? (on Friday morning) 3. Have you written to Mary? (the day before yesterday) 4. Have you thrown the letter away? (some minutes ago) 5. Have you burnt the documents? (three hours ago) 6. Have you found your keys? (this morning) 7. Has your husband ever forgotten your birthday? (last year) 8. Have you rung Tom? (yesterday afternoon) 9. Has Jack ever been to Italy? (in 1990) 10. Have you heard the news? (yesterday) 11. Has she begun work yet? (at 10 o'clock) 12. Have you eaten the cake? (in the morning)

6. Ask your friend whether he has done certain things and when he did them. Use the prompts.

buy a house

— Have you bought a house?

— Yes, I have.

— When did you buy it?

— Two months ago.

1. pay the bill; 2. send for the doctor; 3. see 'Gone with the Wind'; 4. book a ticket; 5. read 'War and Peace'; 6. have dinner; 7. receive the documents; 8. type the papers; 9. do one's homework; 10. rest in the Crimea; 11. hear 'Aida'; 12. choose a present; 13. write the test paper; 14. sell one's tent.

7. Put the verb in brackets in the correct form.

1. You (hear) about Bob? He (break) his leg.— Really? Howthat (happen)? 2. I just (return) from Yalta. — You (go)| there alone? — Together with my son.— How long you (stay) there? — Three weeks. 3. Your hair looks different. You (have) a haircut? — Yes.— You (cut) it yourself? — No, Ann (cut) it for me. 4. Look! Somebody (spill) milk on the carpet. — Well, it (not, be) me. — I wonder who it (be) then. 5. You, (see) the film on television last night? 6. My bicycle isn't here any more. Somebody (take) it. 7. I (not eat) anything yesterday because I (not, feel) hungry. 8. Why Jim (not, want) to play tennis last Friday? —He (be) busy on Friday. 9.Hello_, Susan. Is Alan here? — No, I'm afraid he (go) out. — What a pity! When exactly he (go) out? — About ten minutes ago.10. You (see) 'War and Peace' yet? — Yes, I.... I (see) it last week. — What you (think) of it? — I (not, like) it very much. 11. I (go) to a new Indian restaurant last night with Mary. — To that new place in Marchmount Street? — Yes. You ever (be) there? — No, but Barbara already (be) there. She (love) it. She says she never (eat) such delicious Indian food. What you (order)? — I (have) a prawn curry and Mary (try) a Tandori chicken. They (be) both fantastic 12. I never (be) to Cambridge. — Oh, I (go) there last summer. I (do) a language course there. — You ever (be) to Oxford? — No, but a friend of mine (stay) there for a month two years ago. He (enjoy) it very much.

8. Translate into English.

1. Я никогда не бывал в Китае, но я был в Японии. Это было три года назад. 2. Где мой учебник? Я только что оставил его здесь. Здесь кто-нибудь был? 3. Катя ушла в кино два часа назад и еще не вернулась. 4. Виктор уже починил магнито­фон? - Нет еще. 5. Ты заказала билеты? - Нет еще. - Почему ты не сделала этого вчера? - Я совершенно забыла об этом. 6. Вы когда-либо бывали в Большом театре? - Да. - Что Вы смотрели? - "Лебединое озеро". - Вам понравился балет? - Да, музыка прекрасная, актеры танцевали велико­лепно. 7. Я пойду домой после того, как я закончу работу. 8. Она будет обедать после того, как распакует свои вещи.

9. — Привет, Андрей! Рад тебя видеть.

— Здравствуй, Виктор! Не видел тебя целую вечность. Где ты пропадал?

— Видишь ли, я только что вернулся из Англии. Ты когда-либо там бывал?

— К сожалению, нет. Но я собираюсь поехать туда в следующем году. Ты доволен своей поездкой?

— Конечно. Лондон один из красивейших городов, кото­рые я когда-либо видел. Я пробыл там две недели и прекрасно провел время. Приходи ко мне на днях. Я покажу тебе свои фотографии.

— Хорошо. До скорой встречи.