I’ve been doing

  • B1 · Intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • present perfect continuous

The present perfect continuous for how long something has been going on and for what you have been doing lately: Madhu has been taking a fear-of-flying class for six weeks. From a voice message about a fear of flying to a role-play about getting ready for something scary.

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has been fixingHow long?lately

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Listen: Madhu's messageListening comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the present perfect continuousGrammar exercise
  6. 6have been + -ingGrammar rule
  7. 7Choose the right formGrammar exercise
  8. 8What have they been doing?Grammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12Getting ready for something scarySpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: a message from HonoluluGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: choose the right formGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: a challenge in your lifeDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

Some questions about you before we start.

  1. Do you enjoy flying, or does it make you nervous?
  2. What have you been busy with this week?
  3. Is there something that you have been trying to learn or change lately?

Grammar rule

have been + -ing

have / has + been + -ing

Example
PositiveMy cousin has been fixing up an old boat since June.
NegativeMy brother hasn't been answering his phone this week.
QuestionHow long have you been studying French? · Where has he been going every evening?

Short forms: I've / you've / we've / they've been… · he's / she's / it's been… ('s = has)

Two uses

  • How long? It started in the past, and it is still going on now: with for, since, all day, all week, How long…? — My neighbor has been mowing his lawn since nine. (He is still out there.)
  • Lately: what someone has been doing again and again, or for a while, up to now: with lately, recently, this week, all week. — Our cat has been sleeping on the sofa a lot lately.
We can often see or feel the results now: You're all wet! Have you been swimming?

Watch out

  • Not the present continuous with for or since: I'm studying here since May → I've been studying here since May.
  • been, not being: She has being living here → She has been living here.
  • Verbs for states (know, like, love, want, need, believe, have = own) are not usually continuous: My parents have known our neighbors since 1990. (not have been knowing)
  • Question order: How long have you been working here? (not How long you have been working here?)

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← Unit 1For and since