Unit 9. Present perfect continuous (I have been doing).

Unit 9- Part A

It has been raining
Study this example situation:
Is it raining?
No, but the ground is wet.
It has been raining.

Have/has been -ing is the present perfect continuous:

I/we/they/you   have   (= I’ve etc.) he/she/it   has     (= he’s etc.)

been

doing    waiting playing etc.

We use the present perfect continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped.
There is a connection with now:
•    You’re out of breath. Have you been running?  (= you’re out of breath now)
•    Paul is very tired. He‘s been working very hard.  (= he’s tired now)
•    Why are your clothes so dirty? What have you been doing?
•    I‘ve been talking to Amanda about the problem and she agrees with me.
•    Where have you been? I‘ve been looking for you everywhere.

Unit 9- Part B

It has been raining for two hours.
Study this example situation:
It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining.
How long has it been raining?
It has been raining for two hours.

We use the present perfect continuous in this way with how long, for … and since …. The activity is still happening (as in this example) or has just stopped.
•    How long have you been learning English?  (= you’re still learning English)
•    Tim is still watching television. He‘s been watching television all day.
•    Where have you been? I‘ve been looking for you for the last half hour.
•    Chris hasn’t been feeling well recently.

You can use the present prefect continuous for actions repeated over a period of time:
•    Debbie is a very good tennis player. She’s been playing since she was eight.
•    Every morning they meet in the same cafe. They‘ve been going there for years.

Unit 9- Part C

Compare I am doing (see Unit 1) and I have been doing:

Exercises

{slide=1 What have these people been doing or what has been happening?}

What have these people been doing or what has been happening? {tooltip}Key.{end-link}2    ‘s been watching television / has been watching television 3    ‘ve been playing tennis / have been playing tennis 4    ‘s been running / has been running{end-tooltip}

{/slide} {slide=2 Write a question for each situation.}Write a question for each situation.
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}2    Have you been waiting long?
3    What have you been doing?
4    How long have you been working there?
5    How long have you been selling computers?{end-tooltip}

1    You meet Paul as he is leaving the swimming pool.
      You ask: (you / swim?)      Have you been swimming?   
2    You have just arrived to meet a friend who is waiting for you.
      You ask: (you / wait / long?)  _________________________________
3    You meet a friend in the street. His face and hands are very dirty.
      You ask: (what / you / do?)  _________________________________
4    A friend of yours is now working in a shop. You want to know how long.
      You ask: (how long / you / work / there?)   _________________________________
5    A friend tells you about his job – he sells computers. You want to know how long.
      You ask: (how long / you / sell / computers?)  _________________________________ {/slide} {slide=3 Read the situations and complete the sentences.}Read the situations and complete the sentences.
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}2 ‘ve been waiting / have been waiting
3 ‘ve been learning Spanish / have been learning Spanish
4 She’s been working there / She has been working there
5 They’ve been going there / They have been going there{end-tooltip}

1    It’s raining. The rain started two hours ago.
      It  ‘s been raining  for two hours.
2    We are waiting for the bus. We started waiting 20 minutes ago.
      We ________________ for 20 minutes.
3    I’m learning Spanish. I started classes in December.
      I ________________ since December.
4    Mary is working in London. She started working there on 18 January.    
      ________________ since 18 January.
5    Our friends always spend their holidays in Italy. They started going there years ago.  
      ________________ for years. {/slide} {slide=4 Put the verb into the present continuous or present perfect continuous}Put the verb into the present continuous (I am -ing) or present perfect continuous (I have been -ing).
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}2 I’ve been looking / I have been looking
3 are you looking
4 She’s been teaching / She has been teaching
5 I’ve been thinking /I have been thinking
6 he’s working / he is working
7    she’s been working / she has been working{end-tooltip}

1      Maria has been learning  (Maria / learn) English for two years.
2    Hello. Tom __________________ (I / look) for you. Where have you been?
3    Why __________________ (you / look) at me like that? Stop it!
4    Linda is a teacher. __________________ (she / teach) for ten years.
5     __________________ (I / think) about what you said and I’ve decided to take your advice.
6    ‘Is Paul on holiday this week?’
      ‘No, __________________ (he / work).’
7    Sarah is very tired __________________ (she / work) very hard recently.

{/slide}

Unit 8      Unit 9     Unit 10