Present perfect continuous
- 1. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS I have been doing… She has been doing… Have you been doing..?
- 2. WE USE the PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TO: Talk about long actions which began in the past and continue up to the present or have just finished. Ex. I’ve been reading this book all weekend and I can’t wait to know how it ends.
- 3. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? I’ve studied with Alex Ubago. I’ve been studying English all my life.
- 4. ANSWER I’ve studied with Alex Ubago. In my life (in the past, but I don’t say when) I’ve been studying English all my life. I started in the past and I continue studying nowadays.
- 5. TO USE THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS… BECAUSE THEY REFER TO LONG/REPEATED ACTIONS THE VERBS HAVE TO BE ACTION VERBS Ex. I have been teaching Maths for 20 years. But NOT : I have been knowing Susan for 20 years.
- 6. RIGHT OR WRONG? She has been doing homework all evening. I have been singing this song all day. I have been having a dog since I was little. She has been playing football all morning. We have been knowing each other for years.
- 7. ANSWERS She has been doing homework all evening. I have been singing this song all day. I have had a dog since I was little. She has been playing football all morning. We have known each other for years.
- 8. Exceptions!!!! With the verbs to live and to work you can use both PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE or CONTINUOUS to refer to an action that started in the past and continues to the present: Ex. I have lived here for 20 years. I have been living here for 20 years. I have worked as a teacher for 10 years. I have been working as a teacher for 10 years.