/. Study these example situations:
\. Ann's clothes an covered in paint She has been painting the ceiling. (We are interested in the action.)
2. The ceiling was white. Now it's blue. She has painted the ceiling. (We are interested in the result, not the action)
3. Tom's hands are very dirty. He has been repairing the car. The car is going again now. Tom has repaired it.
4. You've been smoking too much recently. You should smoke less. Somebody has smoked all my cigarettes. The packet is empty.
5. Ann has been writing letters all day. She has written ten letters today.
//. Listen to the conversations and learn them:
1. Bank Manager: Come in. You're Mr Carson, aren't you? Please
sit down.
Mr Carson: Thank you.
Bank Manager: What can I do for you, Mr Carson? Mr Carson: Well, I want to borrow some money. Bank Manager: What for? Mr Carson: I want to buy a car. I've been saving for two
years.
Bank Manager: Ah, how much have you saved? Mr Carson: I've saved about two thousand pounds.
2. Judith: What are you reading?
Maureen: "The Godfather". It's about Mafia in America. John
told me to read it. Judith: It's a very long book. Maureen: I know. I've been reading it for a month, and I haven't
finished it yet!
Judith: How many pages have you read? Maureen- About 400. I don't like long books. Judith: Neither do I.
3. Karen: Hello, Jenny. Are you still working? It's time for
lunch.
Jenny: I know. But I haven't finished these letters yet. They're important. Mr Power wants them this afternoon.
Karen: How long have you been typing?
Jenny: Since nine o'clock. I didn't stop for coffee. Karen: How many have you done? Jenny: Most of them. There are only two left.
Karen: Well, do them after lunch. Jenny: No. I'll do them now. Karen. . . See you this afternoon. 4. Attendant: Petrol, sir?
Motorist: Please... fill it up.
Attendant: Which grade?
Motorist: Four star. It's nearly empty. I've been driving all
day.
Attendant: Oh, how far have you driven? Motorist: About 400 miles. I've driven from Scotland. Attendant: Oh, that's a long way. Shall I check the oil and
water? Motorist: Please
///. Listen to the texts and answer the questions:
1. Peter came back to England a month ago. He has been staying with Tom and Susan since then. He has been looking for a job for a month but has not found one yet. "Some employers don't like people with long hair". Tom says. "Perhaps you'd better get a
haircut!"
Questions: When did Peter come back to England? How long has he been staying with Tom and Susan? How long has he been looking for a job? Has he found one yet?
2. Julia is going to meet her boyfriend. She has been waiting for the bus for some time but it has not come yet. She is going to be late again if it does not come soon. A taxi has just come round the corner. Perhaps she had better take it.
Questions: What is Julia going to do? What is she doing now? How long? What is going to happen if the bus does not come soon? What has just happened? What had she better do?
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Practice
/. Complete the situations. Do it as in the example: e.g. Tom is reading a book. He started reading two hours ago and he is on page 53. He has been reading for two hours. He has read 53 pages
so far.
I. Captain Hay is a "million-mile" pilot. He started flying 20 years ago. 2. It is a 3-mile walk from Bob's house to the city-centre He started an hour ago and he has just reached it.
3. Laura started the washing-machine up an hour ago. There are now 30 clean shirts in the basket. 4. You are just finishing the 5 th and last page of homework. You sat down at the writing-desk 2 hours ago. 5. The tourist came into the old town an hour ago. He is leaving now with 60 new photographs. 6. The typist started an hour ago. Six letters are ready now. 7. Bill is smoking. When he started smoking there were 20 cigarettes in the packet He's smoking his last cigarette.
//. Ask questions:
e.g. I've been picking pears.
How many have you picked?
e.g. He's been making a lot of money.
How much has he made?
1. I've been planting apple trees. 2. I've been making cakes. 3. He's been writing letters. 4. I've been saving money. 5. I've been ironing shirts. 6. Ann's been losing weight. 7. Sue has been washing blankets. 8. He's been selling tea. 9. He's been collecting stamps. 10. I've been cutting sandwiches. 11. Mary's been sending out invitations. 12. I've been taking photographs.
///. Make up sentences using the prompts:
e.g.: I've been... for..., but I haven't... yet. since
a) Prompt: job/three weeks
Response: I've been looking for a job for three weeks, but I haven't found one yet.
b) Prompt: the bus/9 o'clock
Response: I've been waiting for the bus since 9 o'clock, but it hasn't come yet.
1. my homework/half an hour 2. the train/twenty minutes 3. the concert/7.30 4. the postman/8 o'clock 5. this book/2 weeks 6. English/18 months 7. this letter/6 o'clock 8. pop records/20 minutes 9. a sports car/last Christmas
Fluency
/. Listen to the conversations. Ask and answer questions. Role-play the conversations.
1. Steve: Hello, Pam. What are you all doing?
Pam: Oh, hello, Steve. What a surprise! Jeff's outside. He's cleaning the car. In fact he has been cleaning it for over an hour, but he hasn't finished yet.
Steve: And where are the children? Well, I can hear what Kate's doing.
Pam: Yes, she's been practising the violin s'nce after lunch. And Mark's in the garden. He has been painting the fence all afternoon. He hates it. He has only painted half of it.
Steve: And what are you doing, Pam?
Pam: Well, nothing at the moment but I've been reading a new novel by Margaret Drabble. I haven't finished it yet, but it's very interesting. I can recommend it. In fact I've read all her novels. She's my favourite author. And what's Jill doing? Steve: She's busy. In fact she's been working all day. She has
to prepare a test for tomorrow. Pam: Well, how about a nice cup of coffee? 2. Brian: Oh, hello. I've been in the library. Steve: And what have you been doing there? Brian: I've been reading a book about education in England for
our lesson tomorrow. I'm going home now. Steve: It has been raining again, but it's stopped now. Brian: Well, I've got an umbrella in my briefcase, in case it
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starts again. What are you doing now? Steve: I'm waiting for Mike. I have been waiting for over ten
minutes. Oh, look. There he is now.
Mike: Hello, sorry I'm a bit late. I've done some shopping. Have you been waiting long?
Self check
/. Use the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous: 1 Look! Somebody (break) the window. 2. I wonder if John (forget) my number. I (expect) him to call for the past two hours 3 You look very upset. What (happen)? 4. You (not, finish) that book yet? You (read) it for more than a week. 5. The meat must be nearly ready. I (cook) it for nearly an hour. 6. What you do) for the last two hours? - I (sit) here working at this problem. 7 I (lose) my key. Can you help me look for it? 8. You look tired. You (work) hard? 9. My brother is an actor. He (appear) in several films 10. Hello! I (clean) the windows. So far I (clean) five them and there are two more to do. 11. Sorry! I'm late.- That s all right I (not, wait) long.
//. Translate into English:
1 . 2 45 . . 3. ?- . 4 ? - <^-
. ? . 5. , .
