Class Notes, ESOL 0053/0063, 9/26: Connector Quiz 6 (Practice)
Class Notes, ESOL 0053/0063, 9/26: Connector Quiz 6 (Practice)
Class Notes, ESOL 0053/0063, 9/26: Connector Quiz 6 (Practice)
B. Circle the correct alternative. If both are correct, circle both. (10 points each)
1. A: What are you up to today?
B: I’m reading / I’ve been reading a novel.
2. A: What are you up to next weekend?
B: I’m going / I’ve been going to LA.
3. A: You look tired.
B: Yeah, I’m not sleeping / I haven’t been sleeping well lately.
4. A: You look tired.
B: Yeah, I’m not sleeping / I haven’t been sleeping well recently.
5. A: You look tired.
B: Yeah, I’m not sleeping / I haven’t been sleeping well since I got back from my
trip.
6. A: You look tired.
B: Yeah, I’m not sleeping / I haven’t been sleeping well for the last few nights.
7. Laura works every Tuesday morning from 8:00 to noon. It’s Monday evening right
now, so she’s working / she’s been working for four hours tomorrow morning.
8. Laura works every Tuesday morning from 8:00 to noon. Right now it’s Tuesday at
10:00 a.m., so she’s working / she’s been working for two hours.
9. Laura works every Tuesday morning from 8:00 to noon. Right now it’s Tuesday
morning. She’s working / she’s been working for four hours this morning.
The present perfect progressive can be used for for juggling and for habitual counting.
Dani has been dating three guys. (She’s juggling three guys.)
She’s been going out with Jorge two or three times a week.
listing vs. juggling She’s dated Sam, Tom, and She’s been dating Sam, Tom,
Dan. and Dan.
counting once vs. He’s had three apples today. He’s been having three apples
counting habitually every day.
listing once vs. listing He’s had an apple, an orange, He’s been having an apple, an
habitually and a banana today. orange, and a banana every
day.
With LATELY
The adverb lately is used only with verbs in perfect tenses.
Recent Habits
The present perfect / present perfect progressive can be used with lately for recent habitual
actions. However, the present perfect / present perfect progressive is used more often in this
way.
If you use the present perfect / present perfective progressive with lately for a recent habitual
action, then you must do something (e.g. add the expression “a lot”) to indicate habitual
repetition.
If you use the present perfect / present perfect progressive, it is usually not necessary to say
lately because the tense already means lately.
Recent Experience
The present perfect is used with lately (mainly in questions and negative sentences) to
describe recent experience that has led to present knowledge.
I don’t know if that restaurant is still good. I haven’t eaten there lately.
Exercises
Ask your partner about his / her recent habits:
1. Have you been eating well (lately)?
2. Have you been sleeping well (lately)?
3. Have you been exercising (lately)?
4. Have you been having fun (lately)?
Ask your partner about his / her recent experience:
1. Have you talked to your best friend lately? If so, how is s/he?
2. Have you been to your favorite restaurant lately? If not, why not?
3. Have you weighed yourself lately? If so, are you happy with your weight?
So with how long, for, all, whole, and since, when should you use the present perfect
progressive and when should you use the present perfect?
Since I moved to the U.S., I’ve been living / I’ve lived in three different cities.
Since I moved to the U.S., I’ve been living / I’ve lived in LA, Chicago, and Dallas.
Exercise
A. Select the correct alternative. If both are correct, circle both.
1. I wear glasses. I’ve been wearing / I’ve worn glasses since I was a kid. (For a long-
term habit with how long, for, all, whole, since, both tenses are commonly used.)
2. He’s wearing sun glasses. He’s been wearing them / He’s worn them since he
arrived.
3. She plays the piano. She’s been playing / She’s played the piano for many years.
4. She’s playing the piano right now. She’s been playing / She’s played the piano for
an hour.
5. I’ve been studying / I’ve studied for the last four hours, but I can’t stop. I’m still not
ready for the test.
6. He climbs mountains. He’s been climbing / He’s climbed mountains for many
years.
7. He’s climbing a mountain right now. He’s been climbing / He’s climbed it for the last
few hours.
8. I read a lot. I’ve been reading / I’ve read a lot since I was a kid.
9. Right now I’m reading a novel. I’ve been reading / I’ve read it since this morning.
10. She writes mystery novels. She’s been writing / She’s written mystery novels since
she was in her twenties.
11. She’s writing a mystery novel right now. She’s been writing it / She’s written it since
she finished writing her autobiography.