7.4 Read the situations and write sentences with just, already or yet.
1. After lunch you go to see a friend at her house. She says 'Would you like something to eat?'
You say: No, thank you. I've just had lunch. (have lunch)
2. Joe goes out. Five minutes later, the phone rings and the caller says 'Can I speak to Joe?'
You say: I'm afraid --- (go out)
3. You are eating in a restaurant. The waiter thinks you have finished and starts to take your plate away.
You say: Wait a minute! --- (not/finish)
4. You are going to a restaurant this evening. You phone to reserve a table. Later your friend says 'Shall I phone to reserve a table?'
You say: No --- it. (do)
5. You know that a friend of yours is looking for a job. Perhaps she has been successful. Ask her.
You say: ---? (find)
6. Ann went to the bank, but a few minutes ago she returned. Somebody asks 'Is Ann still at the bank?'
You say: No, --- (come back)
7.5 Put in been or gone.
1. Jim is on holiday. He's gone to Italy.
2. Hello! I've just --- to the shops. I've bought lots of things.
3. Alice isn't here at the moment. She's --- to the shop to get a newspaper.
4. Tom has. --- out. He'll be back in about an hour.
5. 'Are you going to the bank?' 'No, I've already --- to the bank.'
UNIT 8. Present perfect (2) (I have done)
A. Study this example conversation:
DAVE: Have you travelled a lot, Jane?
JANE: Yes, I've been to lots of places.
DAVE: Really? Have you ever been to China?
JANE: Yes, I've been to China twice.
DAVE: What about India?
JANE: No, I haven't been to India.
When we talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now, we use the present perfect (have been/have travelled etc.). Here, Dave and Jane are talking about the places Jane has visited in her life (which is a period that continues until now).
* Have you ever eaten caviar? (in your life)
* We've never had a car.
* 'Have you read Hamlet?' 'No, I haven't read any of Shakespeare's plays.'
* Susan really loves that film. She's seen it eight times!
* What a boring film! It's the most boring film I've ever seen.
In the following examples too the speakers are talking about a period that continues until now (recently/in the last few days/so far/since breakfast etc.):
* Have you heard from George recently?
* I've met a lot of people in the last few days.
* Everything is going well. We haven't had any problems so far.
* I'm hungry. I haven't eaten anything since breakfast. (= from breakfast until now)
* It's nice to see you again. We haven't seen each other for a long time.
B. We use the present perfect with today/this morning/this evening etc. when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking (see also Unit 14B):
* I've drunk four cups of coffee today. (perhaps I'll drink more before today is finished)
* Have you had a holiday this year (yet)?
* I haven't seen Tom this morning. Have you?
* Ron hasn't worked very hard this term.
C. Note that we say 'It's the first time something has happened' (present perfect). For example:
Don is having a driving lesson. He is very nervous and unsure because it is his first lesson.
* It's the first time he has driven a car. (not 'drives') or He has never driven a car before.
* Linda has lost her passport again. It's the second time this has happened. (not 'happens')
* This is a lovely meal. It's the first good meal I've had for ages. (not 'I have')
* Bill is phoning his girlfriend again. That's the third time he's phoned her this evening.
EXERCISES
8.1 You are asking somebody questions about things he or she has done. Make questions from the words in brackets.
1. (ever/ride/horse?)
Have you ever ridden a horse?
2. (ever/be/California?)
3. (ever/run/marathon?)
4. (ever/speak/famous person?)
5. (always/live/in this town?)
6. (most beautiful place/ever/visit?) What
8.2 Complete Bs answers. Some sentences are positive and some negative. Use a verb from this list:
be be cat happen have meet play read see see try
1 A: What's George's sister like?
B: I've no idea. I've never met her.
2. A: How is Amy these days?
B: I don't know. I --- her recently.
3. A: Are you hungry?
B: Yes. I --- much today.
4. A: Can you play chess?
B: Yes, but --- for ages.
5. A: Did you enjoy your holiday?
B: Yes, it's the best holiday --- for a long time.
6. A: What's that book like?
B: I don't know ---
7. A: Is Brussels an interesting place?
B: I've no idea --- there.
8. A: Mike was late for work again today.
B: Again? He --- every day this week.
9. A: Do you like caviar?
B: I don't know ---
10. A: The car broke down again yesterday.
B: Not again! That's the second time --- this week.
11. Who's that woman by the door)
B: I don't know --- before.)
8.3 Complete these sentences using today/this year/this term etc.
1. I saw Tom yesterday but I haven't seen him today.
2. I read a newspaper yesterday but I --- today.
3. Last year the company made a profit but this year ---
4. Tracy worked hard at school last term but ---
5. It snowed a lot last winter but ---
6. Our football team won a lot of games last season but we ---
8.4 Read the situations and write sentences as shown in the examples.
1. Jack is driving a car but he's very nervous and not sure what to do.
You ask: Have you driven a car before?
2. Len is playing tennis. He's not very good and he doesn't know the rules.
You ask: Have ---
3. Sue is riding a horse. She doesn't look very confident or comfortable.
You ask: ---
She says: ---
4. Maria is in London. She has just arrived and it's very new for her.
You ask: ---
She says: ---
UNIT 9. Present perfect continuous (I have been doing)
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.) been doing/waiting/playing 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 Carol about the problem and she thinks that ...
B. It has been raining for two hours. Study this example situation:
It is raining now. 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 often use the present perfect continuous in this way, especially 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.
* George hasn't been feeling well recently.
You can use the present perfect 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.
C. Compare I am doing (see Unit 1) and I have been doing:
I am doing (present continuous) -> now
* Don't disturb me now. I'm working.
* We need an umbrella. It's raining.
* Hurry up! We're waiting.
I have been doing (present perfect continuous)
* I've been working hard, so now I'm going to have a rest.
* The ground is wet. It's been raining.
* We've been waiting for an hour.
EXERCISES
9.1 What have these people been doing or what has been happening?
1. They have been shopping.
2. She ---
3. They ---
4. He ---
9.2 Write a question for each situation.
1. John looks sunburnt. You ask: (you/sit in the sun?) Have you been sitting in the sun?
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 living in Baker Street. You want to know 'How long ...?' You ask: (how long/you/live/in Baker Street?)
5. A friend tells you about his job--he sells computers. You want to know 'How long ...?' You ask: (how long/you/sell/computers?)
9.3 Read the situations and complete the sentences.
1. The rain started two hours ago. It's still raining now. It has been raining for two hours.
2. We started waiting for the bus 20 minutes ago. We're still waiting now.
We --- for 20 minutes.
3. I started Spanish classes in December. I'm still learning Spanish now.
I --- since December.
4. Ann began looking for a job six months ago. She's still looking now.
--- for six months.
5. Mary started working in London on 18 January. She's still working there now.
--- since 18 January.
6. Years ago you started writing to a pen-friend. You still write to each other regularly now.
We --- for years.
9.4 Put the verb into the present continuous (I am ~ing etc.) or present perfect continuous (I have been ~ing etc.).
1. Maria has been learning (learn) English for two years.
2. Hello, Tom. I --- (look) for you all morning. Where have you been?
3. Why --- (you/took) at me like that? Stop it!
4. We always go to Ireland for our holidays. We --- (go) there for years.
5. I --- (think) about what you said and I've decided to take your advice.
6. 'Is Ann on holiday this week?' 'No, she ---e (work).'
7. Sarah is very tired. She --- (work) very hard recently.
UNIT 10. Present perfect continuous and simple (I have been doing and I have done)
A. Study these example situations:
Ann's clothes are covered in paint. She has been painting the ceiling.
Has been Painting is the present perfect
We are interested in the activity. It does not matter whether something has been finished or not. In this example, the activity (painting the ceiling) has not been finished.
The ceiling was white. Now it is blue. She has painted the ceiling.
Has painted is the present perfect simple.
Here, the important thing is that something has been finished. 'Has painted' is a completed action. We are interested in the result of the activity (the painted ceiling), not in the activity itself.
Compare these examples:
* My hands are very dirty. I've been repairing the car. The car is OK again now. I've repaired it.
* She's been smoking too much recently. She should smoke less. Somebody has smoked all my cigarettes. The packet is empty.
* It's nice to see you again. What have you been doing since we last met? Where's the book I gave you? What have you done with it?
* Where have you been? Have you been playing tennis? Have you ever played tennis?
B. We use the continuous to ask or say how long (for an activity that is still happening):
* How long have you been reading that book?
* Mary is still writing letters. She's been writing letters all day.
* They've been playing tennis since 2 o'clock.
We use the simple to ask or say how much, how many or how many times (completed actions):
* How many pages of that book have you read?
* Mary has written ten letters today.
* They've played tennis three times this week.
C. There are some verbs (for example, know/like/believe) that are normally not used in the continuous:
* I've known about it for a long time. (not 'I've been knowing')
For a list of these verbs, see Unit 4A.
EXERCISES
10.1 Read the situations and write two sentences using the words in brackets.
1. Tom started reading a book two hours ago. He is still reading it and now he is on page 53.
(read/for two hours) He has been reading for two hours.
(read/53 pages so far) He has read 53 pages so far.
2. Linda is from Australia. She is travelling round Europe at the moment. She began her tour three months ago.
(travel/for three months) She ---
(visit/six countries so far) ---
3. Jimmy is a tennis player. He began playing tennis when he was ten years old. This year he is national champion again--for the fourth time.
(win/the national championship four times)
(play/tennis since he was ten)
4. When they left college, Mary and Sue started making films together. They still make films.
(make/ten films since they left college) They ---
(make/films since they left college)
10.2 For each situation, ask a question using the words in brackets.
1. You have a friend who is learning Arabic. You ask: (how long/learn/Arabic?) How long have you been learning Arabic?
2. You have just arrived to meet a friend. She is waiting for you. You ask: (how long/wait?)
3. You see somebody fishing by the river. You ask: (how many fish/catch?)
4. Some friends of yours are having a party next week. You ask: (how many people/invite?)
5. A friend of yours is a teacher. You ask: (how long/reach?)
6. You meet somebody who is a writer. You ask: (how many books/write?)
(how long/write/books?)
7. A friend of yours is saving money to go on holiday. You ask: (how long/save?)
(how much money/save?)
10.3 Put the verb into the more suitable form, present perfect simple (I have done etc.) or continuous (I have been doing etc.).
1. Where have you been? Have you been playing (you/play) tennis?
2. Look! Somebody --- (break) that window.
3. You look tired. --- (you/work) hard?
4. '--- (you/ever/work) in a factory?' 'No, never.'
5. 'Jane is away on holiday.' 'Oh, is she? Where --- (she/go)?
6. My brother is an actor. He --- (appear) In several films.
7. 'Sorry I'm late.' 'That's all right. I --- (not/wait) long.'
8. 'Is it still raining?' 'No, it --- (stop).'
9. I --- (lose) my address book. --- (you/see) it anywhere?
10. I --- (read) the book you lent me but I --- (not/finish) it yet.
11. I --- (read) the book you lent me, so you can have it back now.
UNIT 11. How long have you (been) ...?
A. Study this example situation:
Bob and Alice are married. They got married exactly 20 years ago, so today is their 20th wedding anniversary.
They have been married for 20 years.
We say: They are married. (present)
but How long have they been married? (present perfect) (not 'How long are they married?')
They have been married for 20 years. (not 'They are married for 20 years')
We use the present perfect to talk about something that began in the past and still continues now. Compare the present and the present perfect:
* Amy is in hospital.
but She has been in hospital since Monday. (not 'Amy is in hospital since Monday')
* We know each other very well.
but We have known each other for a long time. (not 'we know')
* Are you waiting for somebody?
but How long have you been waiting?
B. I have been doing something (present perfect continuous) = 'I started doing something in the past and I am still doing it (or have just stopped)':
* I've been learning English for a long time. (not 'I am learning')
* Sorry I'm late. Have you been waiting long?
* It's been raining since I got up this morning.
The action can be a repeated action:
* 'How long have you been driving?' 'Since I was 17.'
C. I have done (simple) or I have been doing (continuous)
The continuous is more usual with how long, since and for (see also Unit 10B):
* I've been learning English for a long time. (not usually 'I've learnt')
You can normally use either the continuous or simple with live and work: