Examples:
They have been living here since 1996.( and they still do)
They have been learning English for five years. ( and they are still learning it)
Using sentences with the Present Perfect Continuous we indicate more clearly that the action is still continuing into the present. It is not yet completed.
Some verbs are much more commonly found in the continuous form ( wait, lie, sit, stand, live, rest, learn, study). This is because these verbs, by their nature, describe a continuous activity, almost a state.
EXERCISE
Write the verbs in brackets in the Present Perfect Continuous and complete with since or for, where necessary.
1-What you________ (do) ______ lunch?
2-I ________ (rest) _________then.
3-The Browns __________(live) here ________ the last ten years.
4-She ____________(lie) in the sun ________the whole morning.
5-I _________ (try) to get in touch with you _________seven, but your telephone has been engaged all day.
6-We_________( wait) at this bus stop ______ half an hour now.
7-Mr Brown _________ (learn) French ________ September.
8-I ________ (sit) and ___________(watch) the ducks on the pond ________hours.
9- ___________ summer began this place ___________ (swarm) with tourists.
10-She ______________ (stand) in the queue ____________ two o’clock.
11-The Browns ________ (travel) around Portugal __________the beginning of July.
12-My cousin___________(stay) with us all this summer.
13-This book ____________ (lie) around ________ ages; why haven’t you read it?
14-We __________ (listen) to that man __________twenty minutes now and he __________(talk) utter nonsense.
15. I ___________(study) French __________ I was seven.
16. Mary ____________(work) for the same company _________ 1992.
17. They _____________(read) the same book __________ weeks.
18. Susan _____________(try) to compose a symphony _________ two years.
19. They __________(build) this harbour _________last year.
20. These workers _____________(live) on the dole _________ quite a long time.
EXERCISE
Write the verbs in brackets in the Present Perfect Continuous and complete with since or for, where necessary.
1-What have you been doing since lunch?
2-I have been resting since then.
3-The Browns have been living here for the last ten years.
4-She has been lying in the sun for the whole morning.
5-I have been trying to get in touch with you since seven, but your telephone has been engaged all day.
6-We have been waiting at this bus stop for half an hour now.
7-Mr Brown has been learning French since September.
8-I have been sitting and watching the ducks on the pond for hours.
9- Since summer began this place has been swarming with tourists.
10-She has been standing in the queue since two o’clock.
11-The Browns have been travelling around Portugal since the beginning of July.
12-My cousin has been staying with us all this summer.
13-This book has been lying around for ages; why haven’t you read it?
14-We have been listening to that man for twenty minutes now and he has been talking utter nonsense.
15. I have been studying French since I was seven.
16. Mary has been working for the same company since 1992.
17. They have been reading the same book for weeks.
18. Susan has been trying to compose a symphony for two years.
19. They have been building this harbour since last year.
20. These workers have been living on the dole for quite a long time.
