1. The Present Perfect Progressive Tense употребляется для выражения длительного действия, которое началось в прошлом и еще совершается в настоящее время. При употреблении The Present Perfect Progressive Tense в данном значении всегда указан период, в течение которого совершается действие. Для обозначения времени используются обстоятельства for (в течение) и since (с тех пор, как; с):
E. g. I've been working for the same company for twelve years. - Я работаю в одной и той же компании 12 лет.
How long have you been playing football? - Сколько времени ты играешь в футбол?
2. The Present Perfect Progressive Tense употребляется также для выражения действия, которое продолжалось в течение определенного периода времени, но закончилось непосредственно перед моментом речи и связано с настоящим временем своим результатом:
E. g. She's been crying. (Her eyes are red). - Она (долго) плакала. (У нее красные глаза.)
Look! It has been snowing. (The ground is all white). - Смотри! Снег идет (уже давно). (Вся земля - белая.) Сравните: Look! It's snowing. (Действие длится.)
3. The Present Perfect Progressive Tense может употребляться и без указания длительности действия, если из контекста ясно, что действие началось в прошлом и продолжалось (или продолжается) до настоящего времени:
E. g. Please, excuse my dirty clothes. I've been tidying the room. - Пожалуйста, извините меня за грязную одежду. Я убираю комнату.
- Why are you so hot? - Почему ты такой разгоряченный?
- I've been playing football. - Я играл в футбол.
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Exercise 1. Complete the sentences using the Present Perfect Progressive and a suitable time expression:
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1. Where on earth have you been? I’ ve been waiting for ages!
2. My brother isn’t very good at languages. He......... and he can’t 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 doesn’t answer the phone. I.........!
6. It’s 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:
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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: Dad’s 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 Debbie’s clothes.
B: Perhaps..........
6. A: I’m 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: dad’s 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. I’ll 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 can’t 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 can’t find one they can afford.
Exercise 5. Fill in the gaps. Complete the dialogues using either the Present Perfect or Present Perfect Progressive.
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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! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!
B: I......... my homework.
4. A: There you are! I’ve 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.
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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 today’s 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.
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1. Did you see / Have you seen my bag anywhere? I can’t 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 didn’t listen / haven’t listened / haven’t been listening to you.
6. The police think that they found / have found your missing wallet, so call this number.
7. I don’t think we’ll 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.
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1. I’m 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. Let’s go and see Roger. We last (see)......... him a long time ago.
3. It’s nice to be back here in Minsk. This is the second time I (come)......... here.
4. I’m 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 can’t 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.
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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.
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