THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

(PROGRESSIVE) AND THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE-FORMS

FORMATION

The Present Perfect Continuous tense is formed with the help of the auxiliary have/has been and the Present Participle of the main verb.

Table 7

Affirmative			Negative			Interrogative
I you	have	been working	I you	have not	been working	have	I you	been working?
he she it	has		he she it	has not		has	he she it
we you they	have		we you they	have not		have	we you they

USAGE

The Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) tense is used to denote a) an action which started in the past and has been in progress up to the present and including the present or b) a past action of certain duration completed by the present moment and having visible results or effects in the present.

Depending on whether the activity a) is still continuing at the moment of speech or b) has been completed by this time

the inclusive and exclusive meanings of the given tense-form are distinguished.

He's been repairing his car for an hour already. (he is still doing it)

It has been raining since morning, (and it is still raining now)

Your jacket is torn again! You ve been fighting. (but not fighting at the moment of speech)

To denote the period of time or the starting point of the action adverbials with 'for'and 'since'are normally used with these tense-forms.

The Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) tense is similar ю the Present Perfect Simple in showing connection between the past and present. But the Present Perfect Continuous tense is used for more temporary actions and situations and emphasizes the duration of the activity. The Present Perfect Simple is used for more permanent situations and expresses an idea of the completion of an action emphasizing the result of the action for the present.

His parents have lived in London all their lives. I've been living in Sally's flat for the last month.

Note the difference between the Present Perfect Continuous and the Present Perfect tenses from the point of view of Russian-English and English-Russian translation.

1. - You look hot. - I've been running all the way . Я бежала всю дорогу ...	. He's run all the distance to the finish fairly well. Он пробежал всю дистанцию...
2. I've been learning irre­gular verbs all afternoon. Я учил ...	I've learnt irregular verbs (= I know them). Я выучил ...
3. Sorry about the mess -I've been painting the house. Я крашу дом...	3. I've painted two rooms since lunchtime. Я покрасил ...

Compare the use of the Present Perfect Continuous, the Present Perfect Simple and the Present Continuous tense-forms.

1. Someone has been eating my chocolates. There are onlysix left.

2. Someone has eaten all my chocolates. Пе box is empty.

3. Have you decided where to go? - Not yet. We have been thinking about it for the whole week.

4. Why are you crying? What's wrong? Has anyone been rude to you?

5. I remember meeting your brother last summer, but I haven't seen him this year. What has he been doing

since then?

6. Have you done your homework yet, Liz? - No, I'm still doing it. I've been busy since morning.

1. Have you had a good evening? - Well, I've been watching this film on television but it's rubbish, so I think I'll turn it off now.

8. Oh, David, I've been looking for you!

9. Your mother sends her love. I've just been speaking to her on the phone.

PRACTICE

1. Choose the appropriate tense-form.

1. A. - What have you done/have you been doing with my knife? Where is it?

B. - I've put it back in your drawer.

A. - (taking it out) What have you done/have you been doing with it? The blade's all twisted! Have you been using/have you used it to open tins?

2. A. - Do you see those people on that little sandy island? They have been waving/have waved their handker­chiefs for the last half-hour. I wonder why.

B. - They need help. The tide is coming in and very soon that island will be under water. Have you sat/have you been sitting calmly without doing anything to help them?

A. - I have never been/have never been being here before I haven't been hearing/haven't heard about the tides

here. What's up? What are you looking for/have you been looking for? Have you lost/have you been losing

something?

3. A. - Are you still painting/have you been still painting your country house?

B. - Yes. I'm painting/I've been painting it for several days already. I think it'll look beautiful when it's finished.

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