BIZ 1054 : PROGRESSIVE ENGLISH

THE PRESENT AND PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

THE PRESENT AND PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

We use the present perfect continuous tense for an action or situation which began in the past and continues up to the point of speaking. The action may not be finished at this point. Example : I have been trying to solve this physics problem for the past couple of hours. (action is not finished)
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THE PRESENT AND PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

We use the present perfect continuous tense to refer to a series of repeated actions or situation that began in the past and has continued to the present.
Example :
For the past three weeks, Sylvia and I have been discussing the final arrangements for the graduation dinner. (certain times in the past three weeks and action may or may not be finished.
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THE PRESENT AND PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

We use the present perfect continuous tense to refer to an action that is temporary in nature and that lasts for a short duration of time. Example : I have been practicing tennis every evening since the school holidays began. (temporary action-shorter period of time)
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THE PRESENT AND PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

We use the past perfect continuous tense to refer to an action which has been going on continuously up to that time in the past that we are talking about. Example : Dad had been managing his real estate development company for 25 years before he retired last year.
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THE PRESENT AND PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

The present perfect continuous tense if formed this way : has/have +been +base form of verb +ing Examples : has been giving have been criticising The past perfect continuous tense is formed in this way : had +been +base form of verb +ing Examples : had been debating had been creating

PRACTICE :
1. 2. Lucy misplaced her cell-phone. She _____________ (look) for it all evening. Rescue teams __________ (dive) underwater for the last two days in search of the survivors of the ferry which capsized on Monday morning. Chris _________ (already confirm) our hotel reservations long before we arrived in Osaka for our meeting. Bad weather _________ (affect) all the flight schedules this whole week caused several passengers to be stranded.

3.

4.

MORE PRACTICE : Circle the correct sentences

1. We have been signing up for the basic computer course today. 2. Jills father has been blaming himself for the accident which wrecked his car completely. 3. The customs officials have been inspecting our baggage. We are free to go now.

MORE PRACTICE :
1. The kitchen was in a mess. The girls _______ (demonstrate) their culinary skills to prepare dinner for the family. 2. Jennifer __________ (spend) long hours with children in the cancer unit in the hospital before she decided to take up medicine. 3. Concerned parents __________ (hold) counselling sessions this month to discourage youths from frequenting pubs and nightclubs.