Page 61 - BASIC GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Verbs

46 Present Perfect Continuous

FORM

has/have + been + verb-ing

Positive Question Negative

I I I
We have Have we We have not
You ('ve) you You haven't
They been waiting. they been waiting? They been waiting.

He has he He has not
She ('s) Has she She (hasn't)
It it It

USE
• Frequently used with how long, for and since (>• Exercise 43 for difference
between for and since).
I've been studying English since I was a child.
How long have you been waiting?
• To describe activities which were happening until this moment or a very short
time ago:
'You look tired.' 'Yes, I've been working all night'
"Why are you so dirty?' 'I've been playing football'
Note: this tense is not used with to be or with verbs that do not normally take the continuous.

Practice

Write these sentences, putting the verbs into the present perfect continuous.
1 'What (you do) today?' 'I (play) tennis.'

'What have you been doing today?' I've been playing tennis.'
2 'How long (you study) English?'

3 'Oh, David! I (look) for you!'

4 'Pat (live) here for twenty-five years.'

5 'I'm tired. We (walk) all day.'

6 'How long (you learn) to drive?'

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