Present Perfect Continuous or Present Perfect? Flashcards
(55 cards)
When we use it we are interested in the activity itself, not in its result.
Present perfect continous
We use it when we are interested in the result of an activity, not in the activity itself.
Present pefect
We use it for an activity that has recently stopped or just stop; there is a connection with now.
Present perfect continuous
She’s been watching television all day.
How long have you been studying English? (= you’re still studying english)
How long has it been raining? It has been raining for two hours.
We use it for actions repeated over a long period of time.
Present perfect continuous
Debbie is a very good tennis player. She’s been playing since she was eight.
Every morning they meet in the same café. They’ve been going there for years.
We use it to say or ask how long for an activity that is still happening.
Present perfect continuous
How long have you been reading that book?
Lisa is still writing her report. She_’s been writing_ all day.
We use it (especially with how long, for and since) to talk about something (situation) that began in the past and continues to the present time.
**Present perfect **
He’s been in the hospital since Monday.
Have you known each other for a long time?
How long have they had a car?
We use it to say or ask how much, how many, or how many times (for completed action).
Present perfect. How much of that book have you read?Lisa has written 10 pages today.They’ve played tennis three times this week.I’m studying Spanish, but I haven’t learned very much yet.
Which category of important verbs cannot use with the present perfect continuous?
Non-continuous verbs
Abstract verbs such to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist…
Possession verbs such to have (= to posses), to possess, to own, to belong…
Emotion Verbs such to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind…
What verb tense is more common when we ask or say “how long”?
Present perfect continuous
We can infdifferently use these two verbs with the present perfect and the perfect continuous.
“Live” and “work”.
Rick has been living/has lived in Montreal for a long time.
How long have you been working/have you worked there?
We always say I _____ (not / do) something since/for (time indication) .
We always say I haven’t done something …since… or …for _____ .
I haven’t seen Tom since Monday (= Monday was the last time I saw him)
Sue hasn’t called for ages. (= the last time she called was ages ago)
What verb tense is always used with “always”?
Present perfect
Have you always lived in the country? (not always been living)
_____ (you / ever / work) in a factory?
Have you ever worked in a factory?
You look tired. _____ (you / work) hard?
You look tired. Have you been working hard?
Look! Somebody _____ (break) that window.
Look! Somebody (‘s) has broken that window.
Where have you been? _____ (you / play) tennis?
Where have you been? Have you been playing tennis?
“Hi, is Sam there?” “No, he _____ (go) for a run.”
“Hi, is Sam there?” “No, he’s gone for a run.”
“Sorry, I’m late.” “That’s all right. I _____ (not / wait) long”.
“Sorry, I’m late.” “That’s all right. I haven’t been waiting long”.
“Is it still raining?” “No, it _____ (stop).”
“Is it still raining?” “No, it’s stopped.”
I _____ (lose) my cell phone. _____ (you /see) it anywhere?
I’ve lost my cell phone. Have you seen it anywhere?
I _____ (read) the book you lent me, but I _____ (not/finish) it yet. It’s very interesting.
I’ve been reading the book you lent me, but I haven’t finished it yet. It’s very interesting.
I _____ (read) the book you lent me, so you can have it back now.
I’ve read the book you lent me, so you can have it back (ravoir) now.
(Mike/live/with his parents) _____ ? No, he got his own place as soon as he moved back here.
(Mike/live/with his parents)
Has Mike been living with his parents? No, he got his own place as soon as he moved back here.
Is your sister still working at IBM? (works there) Yes, ________ for six years.
Is your sister still working at IBM? Yes, she_’s been working_ there for six years.
