1. The Present Perfect Progressive Tense , . The Present Perfect Progressive Tense , . for ( ) since ( , ; ):
E. g. I've been working for the same company for twelve years. - 12 .
How long have you been playing football? - ?
2. The Present Perfect Progressive Tense , , :
E. g. She's been crying. (Her eyes are red). - () . ( .)
Look! It has been snowing. (The ground is all white). - ! ( ). ( - .) : Look! It's snowing. ( .)
3. The Present Perfect Progressive Tense , , ( ) :
E. g. Please, excuse my dirty clothes. I've been tidying the room. - , . .
- Why are you so hot? - ?
- I've been playing football. - .
 | |||
 | |||
Exercise 1. Complete the sentences using the Present Perfect Progressive and a suitable time expression:
|
1. Where on earth have you been? I ve been waiting for ages!
2. My brother isnt very good at languages. He......... and he cant speak a word!
3. Children! Turn the television off! You.........!
4. I wonder when the new house will be finished. They.........!
5. I wonder why Susie doesnt answer the phone. I.........!
6. Its our turn to use the tennis table now. You.........!
7. The weather is really awful. It.........!
8. Mum, tell Paul to give me back my walkman! He..........
Exercise 2. What do you think they have / it has been doing? Complete the dialogues:
 | |||
 |
1. A: Hey, look out of the window! It.........! B: Fantastic, we can go sledging!
2. A: Your breath smells terrible! B: I..........
3. A: Dads been very bad-tempered recently because he......... hard.
B: Well, he should try to relax and spend more time with his family!
4. A: I feel really tired. I.........!
B: You poor thing. You should make your husband help you!
5. A: I think I can smell smoke on Debbies clothes.
B: Perhaps..........
6. A: Im very worried about my son, doctor. I think he..........
B: Do you know what kind of drugs?
|
|
|
7. A: Your eyes look very red.
B: I..........
Exercise 3. There are eight children in the Murphy family. They are always arguing and blaming each other for things that are missing or broken. Use the notes below to write their dialogues. You must think of your own excuse or reason (line B)!
Student A Student B
1. A: jeans; tear! B: It was me. Sorry, but..........
2. A: Listen to my CDs; not put away! B: It was me. Sorry, but........
3. A: use computer; damage disk! B: It was me. Sorry, but..........
4. A: feed goldfish; too much food! B: It was me. Sorry, but..........
5. A: play with chess set; lose piece! B: It was me. Sorry, but..........
6. A: dads whisky; whole bottle! B: It was me. Sorry, but..........
7. A: do washing up; break four glasses. B: It was me. Sorry, but..........
8. A: mow lawn; cut down flowers! B: It was me. Sorry, but..........
Exercise 4. Put each verb in brackets into either the Present Perfect or Present Perfect Progressive.
1. Someone (eat)...has eaten... all the cakes. Ill have to buy some more.
2. What (you buy)......... your sister for her birthday?
3. My throat is really sore. I (sing)......... all evening.
4. Brenda (learn)......... Belarusian, but she finds it difficult.
5. How many people (you invite)......... to your party?
6. Those two cats (sit)......... on that branch for the last hour.
7. It (rain)......... all day! Why cant it stop!
8. Diana (wear)......... twelve different dresses in the past week!
9. I (do)......... everything you asked. What should I do now?
10. Graham and Pauline (try)......... to find a house for ages, but they cant find one they can afford.
Exercise 5. Fill in the gaps. Complete the dialogues using either the Present Perfect or Present Perfect Progressive.
 |
1. A: How long......... your boyfriend?
B: About three months.
2. A: How long......... in York?
B: About three months.
3. A: There you are! Ive been looking everywhere for you!
B: I......... my homework.
4. A: There you are! Ive been looking everywhere for you!
B: I......... in the garden.
5. A: How have you spent the afternoon?
B: I......... some magazines.
6. A: Do you like reading?
B: Yes, I......... three books this week!
7. A: Where has dad been this morning?
B: He......... the shopping.
Exercise 6. Put each verb in brackets into the Past Simple, the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Progressive.
|
It was announced in London this morning that the British Oil Corporation (1)......... (discover) oil under the sea near the Welsh coast. The company, which (2)......... (drill) for oil in the area since 1990, (3)......... (find) small amount of oil in Swansea last month, and since then (4)......... (discover) larger amounts under the seabed nearby. Last year the government (5)......... (lend) over ₤ 50,000,000 to BOC, and (6)......... (give) permission for the company to build an oil refinery and other facilities in South Wales.
The reaction of local people to todays news (7)......... (be) mixed so far. Local MPs (8)......... (already welcome) the news, pointing out that the oil industry will bring badly needed jobs to the area. But local residents are worried about the danger of pollution. Nobody (9)......... (ask) us yet what we want, said Ann Griffiths, leader of the Keep Out The Oil Campaign. Look what (10)......... (happen) when they (11)......... (find) oil in Scotland in the 1960s. The oil companies (12)......... (get) rich, not the local people. BOC (13)......... (not tell) us the truth about what this is going to mean for our people. A BOC spokesman later (14)......... (refuse) to comment. Meanwhile local campaigners (15)......... (ask) the government to hold an inquiry.
|
|
|
Exercise 7. Choose the most suitable tense.
|
1. Did you see / Have you seen my bag anywhere? I cant find it.
2. Larry is writing / has been writing / has written his novel for the last two years without getting further than Chapter One.
3. From the minute he got up this morning Gary asked / has asked / has been asking silly questions.
4. Have you given / Did you give Helen my message when you have seen / saw her.
5. Sorry, could you say that again? I didnt listen / havent listened / havent been listening to you.
6. The police think that they found / have found your missing wallet, so call this number.
7. I dont think well go swimming after all because the weather changed / has changed / has been changing.
8. How was your holiday in Italy? Did you visit / Have you visited lots of interesting places?
9. Did you two meet / Have you two met before? Eric, this is Amanda.
10. Did you meet / Have you met anyone interesting at the reception?
Exercise 8. Put each verb in brackets into a suitable tense.
|
1. Im sorry about not coming last week. I (have)...had... a cold and so I (stay)......... at home.
2. Wait a minute. I (have)......... an idea. Lets go and see Roger. We last (see)......... him a long time ago.
3. Its nice to be back here in Minsk. This is the second time I (come)......... here.
4. Im phoning about your advertisment for a bycicle for sale, which I (see)......... in the local paper. (you sell)......... it? Or is it still available?
5. This place is in a terrible mess! What on earth (you do).........?
6. And now for an item of local news. Hampshire police (find)......... the dangerous snake which (go)......... missing earlier in the week.
7. This tooth (kill)......... me lately! So I (make)......... an appointment with a dentist for Tuesday.
8. I cant give you the report I (promise)......... for today because I (not finish)..........
9. Harry (not look)......... well since he (go)......... on a diet.
10. It says in the paper that they (discover)......... oil in Wales. They (look for)......... it for ages.
Exercise 9. Answer the following questions.
|
1. What are you reading now? How long have you been reading it?
2. Is your daughter learning to play the piano? How long has she been learning?
3. When did you buy your suit? How long have you been wearing it?
4. Is Natalie a friend of yours? How long have you known her?
5. When did your brother graduate from his University? Where has he been working since then?
6. How long had the Smiths been living together before Nick decided to leave his wife?
7. How long have you been learning English?
8. Can you skate? How long have you been skating?
9. Is Tim away on business now? How long has he been away?
Exercise 11. What have you been zooing? Complete the dialogues using the prompts.
 | |||
 | |||
|
 | |||
 |
