Present Perfect Continuous and Simple (I Have Been Doing and I Have Done)

Cambridge University Press
978-0-521-18939-2 – English Grammar in Use

Raymond Murphy
Excerpt
More information
Unit Present perfect continuous and simple

10 (I have been doing and I have done)
A Study this example situation:
I’ve been painting my bedroom. I’ve painted my bedroom.
There is paint on Kate’s clothes. Her bedroom was green. Now it is yellow.
She has been painting her bedroom. She has painted her bedroom.
Has been painting is the present perfect Has painted is the present perfect simple.
continuous. Here, the important thing is that something
We are thinking of the activity. It does not has been finished. Has painted is a completed
matter whether it has been finished or not. action. We are interested in the result of
In this example, the activity (painting the the activity (the painted bedroom), not the
bedroom) has not been finished. activity itself.
B Compare these examples:
My hands are very dirty. I’ve been My bike is OK again now. I’ve
repairing my bike. repaired it.
Joe has been eating too much recently. Somebody has eaten all the
He should eat less. chocolates. The box is empty.
It’s nice to see you again. What have Where’s the book I gave you? What
you been doing since we last met? have you done with it?
Where have you been? Have you been Have you ever played tennis?
playing tennis?
C
We use the continuous to say how long We use the simple to say how much, how many
(for something that is still happening): or how many times:
How long have you been reading that How much of that book have you read?
book?
Lisa is writing emails. She’s been Lisa is writing emails. She’s sent lots of
writing emails all morning. emails this morning.
They’ve been playing tennis since They’ve played tennis three times this
2 o’clock. week.
I’m learning Arabic, but I haven’t been I’m learning Arabic, but I haven’t learnt
learning it very long. very much yet.
D Some verbs (for example, know/like/believe) are not normally used in the continuous:
I’ve known about the problem for a long time. (not I’ve been knowing)
How long have you had that camera? (not have you been having)
For a list of these verbs, see Unit 4A. For have, see Unit 17.
But note that you can use want and mean in the present perfect continuous:
I’ve been meaning to phone Jane, but I keep forgetting.
Present perfect simple ➜ Units 7–8 Present perfect continuous ➜ Unit 9

20 Present perfect + for/since ➜ Units 11–12
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Cambridge University Press
978-0-521-18939-2 – English Grammar in Use
Raymond Murphy
Excerpt
More information
Unit
Exercises 10
10.1 Read the situation and complete the sentences. Use the verbs in brackets.
1 Tom started reading a book two hours ago. He is still reading it and now he is on page 53.
He has been reading for two hours. (read)
He has read 53 pages so far. (read)
2 Rachel is from Australia. She is travelling round Europe at the moment. She began her trip three
months ago.
She for three months. (travel)
six countries so far. (visit)
3 Patrick is a tennis player. He began playing tennis when he was ten years old. This year he won
the national championship again – for the fourth time.
the national championship four times. (win)
since he was ten. (play)
4 When they left college, Lisa and Sue started making films together. They still make films.
They films since they left college. (make)
five films since they left college. (make)
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:
(wait / long?) Have
3 You see somebody fishing by the river. You ask:
(catch / any fish?)
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 / teach?)
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 a world trip. 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) or continuous
(I have been doing).
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 ‘Liz is away on holiday.’ ‘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 phone. (you / see)
it anywhere?
10 (I / read) the book you lent me, but
(I / not / finish) it yet. It’s very interesting.
11 (I / read) the book you lent me, so you can have it back now.
12 This is a very old book. (I / have) it since I was a child.
21
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Cambridge University Press

978-0-521-18939-2 – English Grammar in Use

Unit Present perfect continuous and simple

I’ve been painting my bedroom. I’ve painted my bedroom.

B Compare these examples:

Present perfect simple ➜ Units 7–8 Present perfect continuous ➜ Unit 9

© in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org

© in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org

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