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Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======The present perfect continuous====== =====Introduction===== <html><p><img id="1383" style="width: 150px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1383_9f8d357c84bb94205897f25f083f110a.png"> <b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>We'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ve been waiting </span>here for two hours.</span></b><br> </p></html> =====Definition===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>The present perfect continuous is a tense that is used to talk about past and recent activities. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is used to talk about an action which started in the past and continues until now or finished recently.</SPAN></B> </P> <P><BR> </P></html> =====Construction===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>affirmative: <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>subject + 'have' + 'been' + present participle</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>It'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">s been snowing</SPAN>.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>negative: <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>subject + 'have' + 'not' + 'been' + present participle</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>It <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">hasn't been snowing</SPAN>.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>interrogative: <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>'have' + subject + 'been' + present participle</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt; tab-stops: 78.0pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">Has</SPAN> it <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">been snowing</SPAN>?</SPAN></B></P><BR></html> =====Uses===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>It can be useful in the following situations:</SPAN></B></P> <TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184" Table border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0> <TBODY> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BACKGROUND: #4f81bd; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: white" lang=EN-US>Situation</SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BACKGROUND: #4f81bd; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: white" lang=EN-US>Examples</SPAN></B></P></TD></TR> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 1"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>When we talk about the duration of an activity</SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>I'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ve been playing </SPAN>tennis since I was a child.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>It'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">s been snowing </SPAN>for two days.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD></TR> <TR style=""> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>In order to focus on activity rather than completion</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>I'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ve been drinking </SPAN>a lot of coffee recently. </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD></TR> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 3"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>To talk about recent activities</SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>"What <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">have </SPAN>you<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc"> been doing </SPAN>recently?" </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>"I'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ve been going </SPAN>to the gym quite a lot and <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">spending </SPAN>more time with my friends."</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD></TR> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 4"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>To explain something in the present. It often answers the question, 'why?', and we may be able to see a result.</SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>I'm tired because I'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ve been working </SPAN>hard and I <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">haven't been sleeping </SPAN>well.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>"Why are your clothes so dirty?"</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>"I'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ve been playing </SPAN>football."</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD></TR> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 5; "> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>To talk about temporary situations.<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc"></SPAN></SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>I'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ve been driving </SPAN>to work because of the train strike.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; " lang=EN-US>He'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">s been working </SPAN>at our head office in London because they're short-staffed at the moment.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" ><B style=""><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR></html> =====Stative verbs===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>Note that we usually avoid using stative verbs in continuous forms and use the simple instead:</SPAN></B></P> <TABLE style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 Table> <TBODY> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 196.8pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=262> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>I've often felt that he's dishonest. <IMG style="WIDTH: 17px; HEIGHT: 13px" id=39 alt=Image src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/39_db7196aad25f86da510b9bb08610a187.jpg" height=22></SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 1cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=38> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 212.6pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=283> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>I've often been feeling... <IMG style="WIDTH: 17px; HEIGHT: 20px" id=40 alt=Image src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/40_457126aaf23a65c1331eea83d27fb7c4.jpg" height=24></SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 41.05pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=55> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B></P></TD></TR> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 1"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 196.8pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=262> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>I've always wanted a Porsche. <IMG style="WIDTH: 17px; HEIGHT: 13px" id=39 alt=Image src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/39_db7196aad25f86da510b9bb08610a187.jpg" height=22></SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 1cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=38> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 212.6pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=283> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>I've always been wanting... <IMG style="WIDTH: 17px; HEIGHT: 20px" id=40 alt=Image src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/40_457126aaf23a65c1331eea83d27fb7c4.jpg" height=24></SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 41.05pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=55> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B></P></TD></TR> <TR> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 196.8pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=262> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>He's never believed me. <IMG style="WIDTH: 17px; HEIGHT: 13px" id=39 alt=Image src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/39_db7196aad25f86da510b9bb08610a187.jpg" height=22></SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 1cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=38> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 212.6pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=283> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>He's never been believing... <IMG style="WIDTH: 17px; HEIGHT: 20px" id=40 alt=Image src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/40_457126aaf23a65c1331eea83d27fb7c4.jpg" height=24></SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 41.05pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=55> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B></P></TD></TR> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 3"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 196.8pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=262> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>Have you had a lot of different jobs? <IMG style="WIDTH: 17px; HEIGHT: 13px" id=39 alt=Image src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/39_db7196aad25f86da510b9bb08610a187.jpg" height=22></SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 1cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=38> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 212.6pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=283> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>Have you been having..? <IMG style="WIDTH: 17px; HEIGHT: 20px" id=40 alt=Image src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/40_457126aaf23a65c1331eea83d27fb7c4.jpg" height=24></SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 41.05pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=55> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR></html> =====Words and expressions commonly used with the present perfect continuous===== <html><P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=ListParagraph><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">1.<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>How long..? For/since</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>We use 'How long..?' to ask about duration.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto" class=ListParagraph><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </SPAN>How long <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">have</SPAN> they <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">been learning</SPAN> English?<U></U></SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 2"> </SPAN>How long <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">have</SPAN> you <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">been working </SPAN>in this department?</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>We can specify duration with either 'for' or 'since'. We use 'for' with a period of time and 'since' with a specific point in the past.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>They'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ve been learning </SPAN>English for two years.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>I'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ve been working </SPAN>in this department since February.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>Some more examples:</SPAN></B></P> <TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid #4F81BD 1.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184" border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 Table> <TBODY> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BACKGROUND: #4f81bd; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: white" lang=EN-US>For</SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BACKGROUND: #4f81bd; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: white" lang=EN-US>Since</SPAN></B></P></TD></TR> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 1"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>five minutes</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>two hours</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>days</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>three weeks</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>a long time</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #4f81bd 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #4f81bd 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>yesterday</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>last week</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>October</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>1974</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>I was a child</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>she started working here</SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-US>Note that </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>in negative sentences with 'for' or 'since', there are different possible meanings between the present perfect continuous and the <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">present perfect simple</SPAN>. The present perfect continuous is less likely to be heard. For example:</SPAN></B></P> <TABLE style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext" border=1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 Table> <TBODY> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>I haven't been to the theatre for ages - so I'm really excited about seeing </SPAN></B><B><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-US>Phantom of the Opera </SPAN></I></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-US>with Susan tonight</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>.</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes" lang=EN-GB>[It is a long time between my last visit to the theatre and the present one.]</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>"Don't you go to the theatre on Wednesdays?" </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>"No, I <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">haven't been going</SPAN> to the theatre for ages."<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes" lang=EN-GB>[I used to go to the theatre regularly but now I don't.]</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P></TD></TR> <TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 1"> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>I haven't spoken to Patty since Monday. </SPAN></B></P> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>[We have had no contact between Monday and today.]</SPAN></B></P></TD> <TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; PADDING-LEFT: 5.4pt; WIDTH: 239.4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 5.4pt; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: windowtext 1pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt" vAlign=top width=319> <P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>I <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">haven't been speaking</SPAN> to Patty since Monday. </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-US>[When we 'are not speaking to someone', it means we are deliberately not communicating because of an argument. So this means that between Monday and today, we have chosen not to have any contact.]<A name=_GoBack></A><SPAN style="COLOR: #2a2a2a"></SPAN></SPAN></B></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #7030a0" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=ListParagraphCxSpFirst><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">2.<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>Just</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto" class=ListParagraphCxSpLast><B><U><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"></SPAN></SPAN></U></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>We use 'just' in affirmative sentences and questions to suggest a recent activity:</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>I'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ve</SPAN> just <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">been reading </SPAN>your report and I'm impressed by the sales figures.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 42.55pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Have</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> you just <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">been smoking</SPAN>? I can smell cigarettes.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-US>Note that</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> these words and expressions can also be used with some other tenses.</SPAN></B></P><BR></html> =====Simple or continuous===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>Use the <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">present perfect simple</SPAN> for actions and experiences at finished but unspecified times in a current time frame and the present perfect continuous for recent or ongoing activities. Compare:</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=ListParagraphCxSpFirst><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial" lang=EN-GB><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">1.<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: FR" lang=EN-GB>She's studied </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: FR" lang=EN-GB>maths and physics but works as a yoga teacher now.</SPAN></B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto" class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: FR" lang=EN-GB><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>She'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">s been studying </SPAN>Japanese because she's going to a conference in Tokyo next month.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto" class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: FR" lang=EN-GB> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial" lang=EN-GB><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">2.<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: FR" lang=EN-GB>He's learned to drive at last - he passed his test last week.</SPAN></B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto" class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: FR" lang=EN-GB><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>He'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">s been learning </SPAN>to drive but it's not going well.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto" class=ListParagraphCxSpLast><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: FR" lang=EN-GB> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB>We also use the <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">present perfect simple </SPAN>for actions that involve something we can count or measure. Compare:</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 42.55pt; tab-stops: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2" class=ListParagraphCxSpFirst><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial" lang=EN-GB><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">1.<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB>I've drunk three glasses of wine this evening.</SPAN></B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 42.55pt; tab-stops: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto" class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>I'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ve been drinking </SPAN>wine all evening.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 42.55pt; tab-stops: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto" class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 42.55pt; tab-stops: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2" class=ListParagraphCxSpMiddle><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial" lang=EN-GB><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">2.<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB>He's run 5km this morning.</SPAN></B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 42.55pt; tab-stops: 42.55pt; mso-add-space: auto" class=ListParagraphCxSpLast><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>He'<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">s been running </SPAN>this morning.</SPAN></B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>See also the rules for <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">present simple </SPAN>and <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">present continuous</SPAN>.</SPAN></B></P><BR></html> =====Examples===== <html><table width="0" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr> <td width="171" valign="middle"><img height="115" id="284" style="width: 113px; height: 92px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/284_b798c403d5765f7b23ccba4ab9f3c154.jpg"></td> <td width="694"> <strong><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'>I'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ve been writing </span>this report for two days and I still haven't finished it.</span> </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><img height="147" id="1286" style="width: 110px; height: 105px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1286_a686ae08456a272602fc3f024f207ffc.png"></span></td> <td><strong><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>They'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ve been coming </span>to this pub since they were students.</span></span> </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><img height="173" id="423" style="width: 112px; height: 129px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/423_c3946f923a27754e5007efde82e7d94a.jpg"></span></span></td> <td><strong><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'>He'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">s been looking forward</span> to Christmas for weeks!</span></span></span> </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="middle"><p><img height="100" id="1441" style="width: 113px; height: 73px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1441_ebb44f8e2da096c4cd7294e3965b6f5e.jpg"></p></td> <td><p><strong><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"How long<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> have </span>Katy and Anne <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">been travelling </span>round Europe?" </span></strong><strong><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'> "Since September. They've visited five countries so far."</span></strong></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img height="102" id="345" style="width: 110px; height: 76px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/345_3bb3f70056a0d7dd1026d1c29297ff25.png"></td> <td><p><strong><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>"So, what <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">have</span> you two <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">been doing </span>since I last saw you?" </span></strong><strong><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'>"Well, James <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">has been decorating </span>the kitchen while I'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ve been looking </span>for a new job."</span> </strong></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img height="158" id="542" style="width: 107px; height: 137px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/542_a3a854c6112a0bbdc6c7f816353172b5.jpg"></td> <td><strong><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'>Have</span><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'> you just <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">been eating </span>those biscuits?</span> </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><img height="183" id="1442" style="width: 107px; height: 111px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1442_c1680e5599ac09275c063d951b9129ce.jpg"></span></td> <td><strong><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'>It'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">s been raining<font color="#000000">.</font></span></span></span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><img height="100" id="224" style="width: 108px; height: 69px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/224_fdcb13025b0f78d52758a200b4e7965d.jpg"></span></td> <td><strong><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><font color="#000000">I'</font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ve been trying </span><font color="#000000">to call you all morning but I couldn't get through earlier. I need to talk to you about a client.</font></span></span> </strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><img height="100" id="1440" style="width: 110px; height: 78px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1440_9113a6bfb4f583ddb0b1b8656dc33988.jpg"></span></span></td> <td><strong><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><span style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'><font color="#000000">She has backache because she'</font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">s been gardening</span>.</span></span></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><img height="119" id="540" style="width: 111px; height: 99px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/540_99576b1a3b28ca0b779a9641eb694b93.jpg"></td> <td><strong><span style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'>They'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">ve been living </span>with his parents while they decorate their flat.</span></strong></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><br></p> </html> [[en:grammar:home|{{ :file_-_back_3_.png?150 }}]]