Unit 9 · Present perfect and past

Present perfect continuous (I have been doing)

Study

Study this example situation:

Is it raining? No, but the ground is wet.

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It’s been raining. (= It has been …)

have/has been + -ing is the present perfect continuous:

I/we/they/you	have	(= I’ve etc.)
he/she/it	has	(= he’s etc.)

+ been + doing / working / learning etc.

We use the present perfect continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped:

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Why are you out of breath? Have you been running?

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Paul is very tired. He’s been working hard.

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Why are you so tired? What have you been doing?

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I’ve been talking to Amanda and she agrees with me.

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Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you.

Study this example situation:

It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining.

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How long has it been raining?

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It’s been raining for two hours. (= It has been …)

We use the present perfect continuous in this way, especially with how long, for … and since … . The activity is still happening (as in this example) or has just stopped.

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How long have you been learning English? (= you’re still learning English)

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Ben is watching TV. He’s been watching TV all day.

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Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you for the last half hour.

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Chris hasn’t been feeling well recently.

You can use the present perfect continuous for repeated actions:

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Silvia is a very good tennis player. She’s been playing since she was eight.

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Every morning they meet in the same cafe. They’ve been going there for years.

Compare I am doing and I have been doing:

I am doing (present continuous)

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Don’t disturb me now. I’m working.

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We need an umbrella. It’s raining.

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Hurry up! We’re waiting.

I have been doing (present perfect continuous)

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I’ve been working hard. Now I’m going to have a break.

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The ground is wet. It’s been raining.

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We’ve been waiting for an hour.

→ Present perfect continuous and simple: Units 10–11 · Present perfect + for/since: Units 11–12

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked

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9.1

What have these people been doing or what has been happening?

1
It’s been raining.example
2
She
3
They
4
He

9.2

Write a question for each situation.

1
You meet Kate as she is leaving the swimming pool. You say: Hi, Kate. (you / swim?)
example
2
You have arrived a little late to meet Ben who is waiting for you. You say: I’m sorry I’m late, Ben. (you / wait / long?)
3
Jane’s little boy comes into the house with a very dirty face and dirty hands. His mother says: Why are you so dirty? (what / you / do?)
4
You are in a shop and see Anna. You didn’t know she worked there. You say: Hi, Anna. (how long / you / work / here?)
5
A friend tells you about his job – he sells phones. You say: You sell phones? (how long / you / do / that?)

9.3

Read the situations and complete the sentences.

1
It’s raining. The rain started two hours ago.
It for two hours.example
2
We are waiting for the bus. We started waiting 20 minutes ago.
We for 20 minutes.
3
I’m learning Japanese. I started classes in December.
I since December.
4
Jessica is working in a hotel. She started working there on 18 January.
since 18 January.
5
Our friends always go to Italy for their holidays. The first time was years ago.
for years.

9.4

Put the verb into the present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) or present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing).

1
(Maria / learn) English for two years.example
2
Hi, Tom. (I / look) for you. I need to ask you something.
3
Why (you / look) at me like that? Stop it!
4
Rachel is a teacher. (she / teach) for ten years.
5
(I / think) about what you said and I’ve decided to take your advice.
6
‘Is Paul on holiday this week?’ ‘No, (he / work).’
7
Sarah is very tired. (she / work) very hard recently.
8
It’s dangerous to use your phone when (you / drive).
9
Laura (travel) in South America for the last three months.