Present Perfect Continuous

UNIT 7

	Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I	I have been writing.	Have I been writing?	I haven’t been writing.
He	He has been writing.	Hashe been writing?	He hasn’t been writing.
She	She has been writing.	Hasshebeen writing?	She hasn’t been writing.
It	It has been writing.	Hasitbeen writing?	It hasn’t been writing.
We	We have been writing.	Havewebeen writing?	We haven’t been writing.
You	You have been writing.	Haveyoubeen writing?	You haven’t been writing.
They	They have been writing.	Havetheybeen writing?	They haven’t been writing.

Exercise 7 8. Comment on the use of the Present Perfect Continuous:

1. a) All these days he has been talking about his new plan. He can’t speak of anything else. b) Here is Mr. Madden who we have just been speaking about.

2. a) I have been peeling potatoes for half an hour, but Mother says there isn’t enough for everybody. b) Why are your hands dirty? — I have been peeling potatoes.

3. a) Children, you have been swimming half an hour already. Get out of the water, quick! b) I am cold because I have been swimming for an hour.

4. a) They have been working in the garden since 10 o’clock. Tell them it is time to have lunch. b) I am very tired; I have been working in the garden.

5). a) Kitty, you have been watching TV too long, you’ll have a headache. b) I have a headache; I have been watching TV too long.

Exercise 79. Write sentences. Use the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous or both. Write two sentences where possible.

1. He (not do) enough work. 2. He (start) this new subject well. 3. He (make) a bit more effort this term. 4. He (not learn) to behave properly in class yet. 5. He never (like) maths, and he (do) very little work all term. 6. This is a job reference in formal English. 7. William Epson (work) in the Parks Department for the last six months. 8. Throughout this time he (train) as a gardener under my supervision and I can confirm that I (watch) his progress closely. 9. I must inform you that he (be) in prison for burglary. 10. However, during his time with us he (be) in charge of money several times and (never/attempt) to steal it. 11. For most of his time here he (help) to grow new trees in the greenhouses. 12. He (learn) quickly and he (not/be) late for work once. 13. We would recommend Mr. Epson for the post he (apply) for.

Exercise 80. Use the Present Continuous or the Present Perfect Continuous instead of the infinitives in brackets.

1. What you (to look) at? — I (to look) at that picture over there. I (to look) at it for almost half an hour and I still can’t understand what it is. 2. What Mary (to do)? — She (to practise) the piano. She (to play) since twelve o’clock. I think she must have a rest. 3. Here you are at last! I (to look) for you everywhere. 4. Why you (to smile) Robert? — I (to watch) your kitten. What a playful little thing it is! 5. I see you (to write) letters all the morning. Is it the last letter you (to write) now? 6. You (to sit) here for quite a long time. You (to wait) for anybody? 7. How long you (to study) Chinese, Ned? — For three years already. 8. I (to work) at my report since Monday. Now I (to write) the conclusion. 9. Mary’s mother (to rest) in the garden all day because she is very ill. 10. She (to sleep) for ten hours! You must wake her! 11. David (to repair) the TV-set. He (to work) at it for an hour or so. 12. David (to wash) his hands. He just (to repair) the TV-set. 13. Why you all (to laugh)? Jim (to tell) you his anecdotes? 14. It’s six o’clock. I (to wait) for Ann for half an hour.

Exercise 81. Use the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous instead of the infinitives in brackets:

1. You (to pass) your exam in English literature? 2. I (to try) to learn English for years but I (not to make) good progress yet. 3. That book (to lie) on the table for weeks. You (not to read) it yet? 4. I (to wait) here for her since seven o’clock and she (not to come) yet. 5. I (to read) “War and Peace” for the last three months. 6. I (to think) about you all day. 7. He never (to be) here before. 8. I can’t help being angry with you; you (to sit) here all the time and doing nothing. 9. There’s nothing to be proud of; you (not to get) a single excellent mark as yet. 10. I (to work) so hard this week that I (not to have) time to go to the cinema. 11. The girls (to talk) about their new dresses for half an hour already; it seems they have nothing else to talk about. 12. I just (to talk) to him; he agrees to help us. 13. Some of our students (to join) the English club to get a better command of the language. 14. I (to know) her all my life and we always (to be) good friends.

Exercise 82. Use the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous instead of the infinitives in brackets:

1. She (to paint), or pretending to paint, for about six hours. 2. I (to do) a great deal of work today. 3. I (to read) your composition. I think you’ll have to polish it up a bit. 4. They (to build) that bridge for several months, but they (not to finish) it yet. 5. He (to grow) so old that he spends most of his time sitting in an easy-chair. 6. “You’ll have to speak louder, I’m afraid. I (to become) very deaf,” said Randal. 7. What you (to do) with yourself, Edward, since I saw you last? 8. I expect you (to have) already a talk with Henry. He looks more cheerful. 9. This picture (to hang) here for a long time. 10. Edward is coming! How nice! I (not to see) Edward for years. 11. What you (to do) since Sunday? 12. I want to talk to you. I (to want) to talk to you for a long time. 13. Well, Bunter? — Everything (to be done) that can be done, my lady. 14. It’s no use denying, my dear Dick, that you (to think) too much lately. 15. He (to lose) his dictionary. He (to look) for it all day, but (not to find) it yet. 16. She (to read) all the plays by Galsworthy. How many you (to read)? 17. Jim (not to be) here for three weeks. 18. I can’t wait any longer. I (to wait) since five o’clock. 19. I (not to have) a good night’s sleep since last week.

Exercise 83. Fill in the blanks with correct present tenses of the verbs given in brackets. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. The sportsmen... the game since morning (play). Look at them. They... already tired (be). 2. I... the novel by John Steinbeck for nearly half a year (translate). And now I... it at last (finish). 3. I... that you... the work yet (see, not to finish)! I... what you... all the time (wonder, do). — We... and we... still... (work, work). 4. The personnel manager... for a candidate to this position for two weeks (look for). He... one manager finally (choose). 5. The children... the flat since morning (clean). Now they... for their mother (wait). She... from a business tour tonight (come back). 6. The group of young scientists... to St. Petersburg tomorrow (arrive). They... their joint work with the British colleagues at Oxford and... excellent results (complete, achieve). Now we... interesting publications (expect). 7.... you... (hear)? Somebody... behind the wall (scratch). — It only... to you (seem). No sound... in the room (penetrate). 8. Fanny... to play the guitar for a year (practise). But she... still unable to play it (be). 9. Put this book aside. You... it too long (read). Your eyes... already red (be). 10.... you... anything to do now (not to have)? You... through the window all the time (look). 11. Grandpa... the bushes since afternoon (trim). I think his hands... badly now (hurt). 12. That lady... the fashion magazines for an hour (look through). But she... anything of interest yet (not to find). 13. What... you... (look for)? — I... my glasses somewhere and can’t find them (put).... you... where they can be (know)? 14.... you ever... Thomas Dylan’s poems (read)? — No, but why... you... (ask)? — I... his book of verses now (read). Rather interesting.

Exercise 84. Fill in the blanks with correct present tenses of the verbs given in brackets.

1. — My younger sister... never... abroad (be). But she... to France next week (go). —... she... to it (look forward)? 2. — Who is it over there? — It’s Bob. He... his morning exercises (do). He... his exercises almost every day (do, do). 3. I... always... ballet (like). My husband and I... to a premiere at the Maryinsky theatre tomorrow (go). 4. Her daughter... from the university yet (not/graduate). She... in her fifth year now (be). 5. What dress... you... (choose)? – I... still... at the moment (think). I... yet (not/decide). I... always... bright clothes (wear). Maybe, a darker one will be a good choice. 6. The alarm clock... Michael up every morning (wake). He... and... to the bathroom (get up, go). After he... a cold shower, he... his breakfast himself (have, make). 7. This pair of boots... quite a lot (cost). The prices... constantly (go up). 8. The shop-assistants... very nice uniforms (wear). Have a look at them. They... near the counter (stand). 9.... you ever... elks (see)? – I... never... them in nature (see). But I often... them in the zoo (see). 10. The Ruskins... their country cottage recently (rebuild). It... so nice (look). See yourself. – And who... in the garden near the cottage (work)? – It... Mr. Ruskin himself (be). 11. The girl... so bitterly (cry). What... (happen)? – She... a file with documents on the bus (leave). 12. You... pale (look)... anything wrong (be)? – I... well at the moment (not to feel). 13. We... since your departure for India (not to meet). You... at all (not to change). – You... but thanks, anyway (joke). 14. My granny... these letters for almost thirty years (keep). They... a lot for her (mean). 15. I... angry (get). I... an hour already on copying these texts (spend).... you... a Xerox (have)? – We have it, but it... now (not to work).

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