present
perfect
continuous

Presentation

Welcome to this lesson, to start with I invite you to read the following story called: The Perfect Man.

THE PERFECT MAN

There is a big mall where women can buy the perfect husband. At the entrance there is an ad with the instructions and warns that the store can be visited only once, it has five floors, and the characteristics of the candidate get better every time you get on one floor, once you have left a level you cannot come back.

A woman made the decision to try it. She gets to the first floor and reads the following:



Letrero


She says. ”It's not bad, but I'm sure I can have something better”. So she decided to go to the next floor.

In the 2nd. Floor the ad says:


Letrero


She asks herself again: Oh God!! How the third option would be? So she went on.

She went on the 3rd and the 4th floor looking for something better until she got to the 5th floor, and she found an ad that says:



Letrero



Conclusion


Calaca



Nowadays it is fundamental to learn English as a second language. Learning the present perfect continuous will allow you to talk about actions that have been made during a period in the past.

 




Objective

By the end of this topic you will:
Be able to make sentences in the present perfect continuous correctly by writing, reading, hearing or having a conversation with someone in different situations and contexts in daily life to recognise the right moment to use this structure.




Present Perfect Continuous


The use of the present perfect continuous in Spanish is equivalent to the application in English.
Look at the following chart to have a better understanding of this topic:



  • Use
    Flecha

    We use the present perfect continuous to talk about actions or situations that started in the past and are still in progress.
    It is used to indicate that the action or event took place in the past but still applies to the present.
    The most important factor in this tense is the time or the duration of the action. It is very common to see this way in most questions: "Have you ...?"

  • Structure

    It’s time to understand and formulate sentences in its three main forms: affirmative, negative and interrogative.
    We form the Present Perfect Progressive with the auxiliary verb:

    have/has

    +

    been

    +

    Verb with the ending in -ing.

    Note:
    has → 3rd person singular (he, she, it)
    have → all other forms (I, you, we, they)

  • Affirmative

    I have been running for a long time.

    búho corriendo

    He has been running for a long time.

    Look at these examples and pay attention to the duration of the action:

    • They have been talking for the last hour.
    • She has been working at that company for three years.
    • Recently, I have been feeling really tired.
    • She has been watching too much television lately.

  • Negative

    I have not been playing with a ball.

    búho llorando

    He has not been having a good time.

    Look at these examples:
    • They have not been talking for the last hour.
    • She has not been working at that company for three years.
    • I haven’t been feeling really tired.
    • She hasn’t been watching too much television lately.

  • Questions

    Have they been playing with a ball?

    búho con pelota

    Has he been playing with a ball?

    Look at these examples:
    • Have they been talking for the last hour?
    • Has she been working at that company for three years?
    • Have you been feeling really tired?
    • Has she been watching too much television lately?

  • More information

    1. Actions beginning in the past and still continuing (focus is on the action) – mostly with since (point of time) or for (period of time)
    • I have been waiting for you for the five hours. (It was too long).
    • Recently completed actions (focus is on the action).
    • She has been watching too many movies. (It took too much time).

    2. Signal words: Duration is important, therefore these words may be common in the structure of the present perfect continuous.
    • all day
    • the whole day
    • since
    • for
    • Questions with how long

    3. Adverbs: Expressions of time that are usually used with the present perfect continuous (progressive).
    • yet
    • always
    • never
    • ever
    • already
    • just


Reading

Activity 1

Karla and Susy, friends forever

 

 

Once upon a time there were two young girls who became great friends. Do you have any good friends?

Read the following story about Karla and Susy.

Now that you have been reading about these girls. Read and select the best option to each of the following questions. Use the Present Perfect Progressive tense. At the end you will know your performance.


Reading

Activity 2

Continue the story

Keep track of the story about Susy and Karla, giving a happy ending about their friendship.


Make sure it has the characteristics contained in the checklist. Then, check this example and compare it to your story.

During three weeks Karla has been taking care of Susy. She has been visiting her and reading fairy tales. Susy’s mom has been preparing delicious snacks for them. The best friends have been spending time together. After several weeks Susy got better. Karla proved she is the most valuable and essential friend in Susy’s life.

TIP: If you want to check ahead of time your piece of writing you can check it in the following website: polishmywriting.com






Listening

Activity 3

Missed the call

Pre - Listening

Have you ever missed an urgent phone call?

What have you done to solve the situation?

Look at the following pictures and summarise Carlos and Javier's listening.



Post-it

Remember to include the following elements:


Listening

Activity 4

During listening

You are going to listen to Javier and Carlos talk about a missed call.

Listen and answer the True or False questions.








Listening

Activity 5

The Garden

Pre - Listening


Have you ever walked on the wet grass with your bare feet?



Bare foot

During listening


You are going to listen to Carlos and Antonio talking about the experience of walking in a wet garden. Listen and answer True or False.



Wet grass

 







Listening

Activity 6

Design a conversation
Writing

Post - Listening

Design a similar chat using one of the two previous models.

Think about an experience that began in the past and continues in the present, emphasise in the period.

Look at the checklist to self-evaluate your conversation.

Remember to use the present perfect continuous.









Writing

Activity 7

Making up sentences

Remember that the present perfect progressive expresses an action that recently stopped or is still going on. It puts emphasis on the duration or course of the action.

Look at the following apartment, these are people who have been doing different things in the past 30 minutes. Write only 7 sentences in present perfect progressive describing what they have been doing:



For this activity you will be evaluated according to the following information:

Look at the following apartment, these are people who have been doing different things in the past 30 minutes. Write only 7 sentences in present perfect progressive describing what they have been doing:

Example:

The baby has been drinking milk in the past 10 minutes.

In this activity, you will assess yourself according to the following checklist.


Writing

Activity 8

Feeling disappointed

Have you ever felt discouraged because you have been waiting for an extended period for something to happen or someone to arrive?

Describe the last five times that you have been waiting for someone or something that never came or appeared.

Write a short text (50-70 words) mentioning your experience using the present perfect continuous.

Calaca

Ballesteros, A. (2016)


Make sure it has the characteristics contained in the rubrics. Then compare your text to this example for a self-assessment.

Last September I bought a pair of leggings on a web page, I have been waiting for them all this time, and they haven’t arrived.

I have been working with my uncle for three months, and I haven’t received my payment. For the last hour, I have been waiting outside his office to talk to him. I hope this time I can get my money.

I’m studying the last semester of the major. I have been working on my thesis for the last six months. My USB drive broke down and I have lost all the information and work. This is awful. I have tried to reach my assessor, but I haven’t been able to find him. I’m at his office right now. I have been here for almost two hours and he hasn’t arrived. How frustrating!







Speaking

Activity 9

Rhythm and intonation
Ritmo

Use Activity 8 and record it on your computer. Pay attention to intonation and rhythm.

Read this checklist for a self-assessment.









Self-assessment

Time to practice

Remember to use the auxiliary verb (have/has) according to the person who does the action. Match the sentences with the present perfect continuous form of the verbs. Pay attention to the context of each sentence.

Self-assessment

Change structure

Remember that the present perfect continuous is also used in negative and questions. Select the incorrect sentence; you will have three options either in negative, Yes/No questions and WH-questions.

Look at the example:

“Walter has been washing the car for 30 minutes.”

● Negative: Walter has not been washing the car for 30 minutes.

● Yes/No Question: Has Walter been washing the car for 30 minutes?

● WH-Question: Who has been washing the car for 30 minutes?

Self-assessment

Conjugation

Drag the word that best completes each sentence. At the end of the activity you can know your score.

References

Basic references

  • Beaumont Digby. (1993). Elementary English Grammar. Edit the Heinemann. First Published. USA.

  • Borrell Philip, Kay Sue, Maggs Peter. (2008). American Inside out Elementary. MacMillan. Jones Cecri, Goldstein. American Framework. Richmond Publishing.

Complementary references

  • Ottway tom, Norris Lucy. (2007). Elevator. Edit. Richmond Publishing.

  • Hobbs Martin / Starr Keddle Julie. (2010). For real elementary. Edit. Helbling Languages.