You use the present perfect progressive (also
called 'continuous) to talk about actions which began in
the past and which are still going on.
Let us
see some examples:
Julia
has been
finding Maria a pain.
Julia
has been changing a
lot.
Christian
has been spreading
rumours about Mario.
There are many occasions when it would be possible to use
either the present perfect simple or the present perfect
progressive. But you use the progressive tense when you want
to emphasise:
a) how long a recent event
has been happening. b) that it has not been
completed.
ACTIVITY 264: Complete this
conversation by choosing the appropriate verbal alternative from the
menus: present perfect progressive, present perfect simple
or past simple. Then check the answers.
ROSA:
Tell me – something you recently, hasn't it?
LINA:
Oh, yes. I've got this problem. I
a lot about my old friendship with
Annette. She someone and
she wants to marry him. At first I
happy for them both. But now
I never see her. I think she's trying to get rid of me.
ROSA:
Oh, dear. What makes you think that?
LINA:
Oh, many things. For instance, for the past few months we
an evening course in jewellery design. Last week she
that she
to give it up. She
on this wonderful series of
earrings – but now she wants to drop everything. I can't believe it. And
when I her last weekend to talk about
it, she to come to the phone. I
for her to ring me back, but she
still . I don't know what to do.
Simple or progressive? (II)
ACTIVITY 265:
Put the verbs
in blue in the correct tense:
present simple,present progressive, present perfect
simple, present perfect progressive, past simple,
past progressive or
past perfect simple. Then check the answers.
1.
Why
(WE /
NOT PASS)
a signpost on this road yet? We
(DRIVE)
for 40 minutes.
2.
What happens to Paul? These days he always
(LOOK)
as if he
(LAUGH)
at everyone..
3.
We all
(LOVE)
parties, so we
(LOOK FORWARD)
to the beach barbecue next weekend.
4.
I
(TRAVEL)
round Argentina and Chile when I first
(MEET)
Christine.
5.
My brother Emanuel
(FEEL)
lonely since he
(LEAVE)
his home in Buenos Aires.
