Present perfect continuous

  • B1 · Intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

The present perfect continuous: how long something has been going on, and what someone has been doing that explains how things look now. How it differs from the present perfect simple (activity or result), from a newsletter story about a woman who fixes old bikes to an interview for the neighborhood newsletter.

Teach this lessonDownload PDF

Free, no card needed. The PDF has every slide, the homework and an answer key.

has been fixingHow long?been working

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2Reading: the bike ladyReading comprehension
  3. 3Activity or result?Grammar exercise
  4. 4How it worksGrammar rule
  5. 5Activity or result?Grammar exercise
  6. 6How long?Grammar exercise
  7. 7Why is that?Speaking practice
  8. 8At the plant shopGrammar exercise
  9. 9Ask about itGrammar exercise
  10. 10Continuous or not? State verbsGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12Interview: neighbor of the monthSpeaking practice
  13. 13Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: a letter to the newsletterGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: choose the right formGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: a neighbor of the monthDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. What have you been doing today?
  2. Can you fix a bike, a leaky faucet or a broken chair, or do you ask someone for help?
  3. How well do you know the people on your street?

Grammar rule

How it works

have / has been + -ing

FormExample
PositiveMarcy has been fixing bikes since she retired.
NegativeI haven't been drinking much coffee this month.
QuestionHow long have they been working on the tandem?

Two uses

  • How long? It started in the past and is still going on: Theo has been helping her for months. (He still helps her.)
  • Why? It has just stopped, and we can see the result: Your hands are covered in oil. Have you been working on your bike?

Activity or result?

Marcy has been fixing bikes for two years. (the activity: how long) · She has fixed more than 150 bikes. (the result: what is done, how many)

Verbs like know, like, love, believe, seem, own and have (= own) are not usually used in the continuous: Marcy has owned her house since 1987. With live, work and study, both forms are fine: My cousin has worked / has been working at the zoo since 2022.

Teach it live with video and a whiteboard, or print it: the PDF has every slide, the homework and the answers.

Teach this lesson
← Unit 2Hooked on bad news