The Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) Tense

Present Perfect Continuous образуется при помощи вспомогательного глагола to be в Present Perfect (have been, has been) и глагола-сказуемого с –ing окончанием.

Обозначает действие или состояние, которое началось в прошлом и продолжалось в течение определенного периода до момента речи и либо все ещё продолжается в этот момент, либо закончилось непосредственно перед ним.

I have been waiting for him for two hours. – Я ждал его 2 часа.

– Глаголы состояния (non-continuous verbs) в Present Perfect Continuous не употребляется.

POSITIVE	NEGATIVE	QUESTION
I/you/we/they have been washing	I/you/we/they haven't been washing	Have I/you/we/they been washing?
He/she/it has been washing	He/she/it hasn't been washing	Has he/she/it been washing?

Маркерами этого времени являются такие обстоятельства времени как: for (ten years) – в течение (десяти) лет; for a long time– на протяжении долгого времени; all day long– в течение всего дня; since Friday – с пятницы (и до настоящего времени).

Grammar Exercises

1. Write a question for each situation.

You meet Sam as he is leaving the swimming pool.
Model: You ask: (you/swim?) Have you been swimming?

1. You have just arrived to meet a friend who is waiting for you.
You ask: (you/wait/long)................................ ?

2. You meet a friend in the street. His clothes are completely wet.
You ask: (what/you/do).................................?

3. A friend of yours is now working in a supermarket.
You ask: (how long/you/work/there)....................... ?

4. The fellow student tells you about his job - he sells computers. You want to know how long.

5. You ask: (how long/you/sell / computers)................?

2.TranslateintoEnglish.

1. Как долго вы изучаете испанский язык?

2. Мы живем здесь только год.

3. Дождь идёт с раннего утра.

4. Чем он занимается с тех пор, как мы виделись с ним в последний раз?

5. Я пытаюсь отремонтировать компьютер на протяжении всего дня.

3. Put in the verbs. Use Present Perfect Continuous.

Ilona: Sorry I'm late.

Model: Emma: It's OK.I haven't been waiting…(I / not / wait) long.

What (l)................. (you/do)?

Nelly: I've been with Mrs. King. (2)................. (she / help) me with my English.
Nelly: Your English is very good. You don't need lessons, surely.

How long (3)........................ (you / study) English?
Ilona: Er, eight years now. But my accent wasn't so good before I came to England. (4).............. (I / try) to improve it. I think (5)..................... (it / get) better lately.
Nelly: Your accent is fine, Ilona. Honestly.

4. Use Present Simple or Present Perfect Continuous

A. 1. He has suffered a great deal of pain. You (not to think) he (to behave) very well, though? 2. “I (to live) up there,” she said, indicating the gates. 3. I never (to change) my shoes even when I (to get) my feet wet. 4. “By the way,” I asked Arthur, “what Bill (to do) now?” 5. The guard stared at him. “You (to have) a pass?” 6. “Mr Brown (to play) cards?” he asked. 7. “Luis (to keep) something secret.” “He (not to tell) you everything?” 8. They will have to stay with us when they (to arrive) here. 9. “And what has become of Mr Jones?” the man asked, “He (to do) well.” 10. “You must forgive me,” Mr Smith said, “but I (not to touch) alcohol.” 11. It’s no use mumbling at me out of the side of your mouth, and imagining that you (to speak) French. 12. “Dan,” she said, turning to her husband with her hand over the mouthpiece, “why your brother (to call) so early?” 13. I (to believe) she (to feel) foolish this morning.

B. 1. If there is one thing I (not to like) on a voyage it is the unexpected one. Naturally I (not to talk) of the sea. The sea (to present) no problem. 2. He will give me a welcome whenever I (to come) here. 3. A very old woman was staring at them intently. “We (to do) something to attract attention?” Grace asked. 4. At the further end of the village (to stand) the medieval church. 5. “I shall go mad if this (to go) on much longer,” said Rex. 6. “Where’s Mrs Hardy?” “Downstairs, Sir. She (to greet) the guests.” 7. May I put my car away in your garage in case anyone (to come)? 8. He gave me a smile as much as to say: “I only (to joke).” 9. Mr Smith and I never (to travel) anywhere without a bottle of aspirin. 10. The wheel of her bicycle was bent out of shape. “What I (to do) now?” she asked. 11. She always (to try) to show off to her husband that she can do without him. 12. The doctor (not to see) the patients today. He has been called away. 13. “If you (to feel) so strongly,” she said, “why you (not to do) something about it?”

5. Put the following sentences into the correct tense: Present Continuous, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous, Past Simple.

1.Aren’t you about to finish with the dishes? You _______ (wash) the dishes for thirty minutes or more. How long can it take you to wash the dishes? 2. We _______ (go) to the Steak House restaurant many times. The food is excellent. 3. A: What is that sound? B: A car alarm _______ (ring) somewhere down the street. It _______ (drive) me crazy —I wish it would stop! It _______ (ring) for more than twenty minutes. 4. Can you translate this note from Stockholm? I understood Swedish when I _______ (be) a child, but I _______ (forget) it all. 5. What’s that dent in the side of the car? You _______ (have) an accident? 6. I’m sorry, John’s not here; he _______ (go) to the dentist. He _______ (have) trouble with a tooth for some time. 7. This cassette recorder is broken. You _______ (play) about with it? 8. Your Italian is very good. You _______ (study) it long? 9. Do you mind if I clear the table? You _______ (have) enough to eat? 10. Ann never _______ (go) camping. She _______ (not sleep) in a tent. 11. Frank, where have you been? We _______ (wait) for you since 1 p.m. 12. I’m not surprised he _______ (fail) that exam. He _______ (not / work) hard recently.

6. Put the following sentences into the correct tense: Present Perfect, Past Simple or Present Perfect Continuous.

A. 1. Oh no! The children _______ (cook). Look at the state of this kitchen! 2. How many times Wendy _______ (be) late for work this week? 3. I’m going to give that cat some food. It _______ (sit) on the doorstep for hours. I’m sure it’s starving. 4. I _______ (do) grammar exercises all morning. I deserve a treat for lunch. 5. You _______ (not / buy) your mother a present? That’s really mean of you. 6. She _______ (work) in Australia for 2 years. Then she moved. 7. Now where are my keys? This is the third time I _______ (lose) them today. 8. You _______ (ever/play) chess? You should try it. I’m sure it’s the sort that you’d like. 9. Oh do be quiet. You _______ (grumble) all day! 10. Your tennis _______ (really / improve)! You _______ (practice) in secret?

B.1. Today is Thursday, and John ________ (be) late twice this week; he________ (be) late yesterday and on Monday. 2. I first________ (meet) George a month ago, and I ________ (meet) him several times since then. 3. It is October now, and we ________ (do) a lot of work this year; we ________ (do) a lot last year too. 4. She ________ (buy) a coat last winter, but she________ (not / buy) a new dress since 2012. 5. It’s only the middle of the month, and he________ (spend) (already) most of his salary; he ________ (spend) $60 yesterday. 6. I ________ (break) my leg in 2002, but I ________ (break) (never) my arm. 7. He’s over sixty, and he’s still working. He ________ (work) hard all his life. 8. When he ________ (be) a young man, he sometimes ________ (work) all night. 9. The postman ________ (come) at eight yesterday, but it’s now half past eight and he ________ (not / come) yet. 10. Today is May 25th. Ted ________ (not / be) absent this month. He ________ (feel) extremely ill when he went to hospital, but he ________ (feel) much better since he came out of hospital a month ago.