1. Put the verb in brackets into the Present Perfect Continuous.

1. I (to work) on this problem for two months. 2. She (to sleep) all this time? 3. You (to talk) this nonsense all day long. 4. Any news about your latest project? – I just (to tell) about it. 5. He says he (not/to feel) well for the past week. 6. You are red all over. How long you (to lie) in the sun today? 7. I (to try) to get you all day, George! 8. I (not/to sleep) well for months. 9. We (to see) each other regularly since the party at Helen’s. 10. Jack isn’t working now. – He (not/to work) for years.

2. Make up sentences using the Present Perfect Continuous.

A) Ann is looking for a job. She began looking for a job six months ago.

Ann has been looking for a job for six months.

1. Jane is writing letters. She began writing letters an hour ago.

2. George smokes. He started smoking five years ago.

3. Helen studies French. She began studying French eight months ago.

4. The boys are playing football. They started playing football two hours ago.

5. It is raining. It began raining three hours ago.

6. Helen is preparing for her exam. She began preparing for it two weeks ago.

B) Lucy began typing at 9 o’clock. She is still typing.

Lucy has been typing since 9 o’clock.

1. Dick started reading that book on Friday. He’s still reading it.

2. Helen began translating the text at 10 o’clock. She’s still translating it.

3. They began to discuss the plan at 12 o’clock. They are still discussing it.

4. Dick began to watch TV at 6. He’s still watching it.

5. Mr Smith began to work for this company last year. He’s still working for this company.

6. They began to talk at 12. They are still talking.

3. Answer the questions using the Present Perfect Continuous. Use prepositions since or for.

Is John still sleeping? (hours) - Yes, he’s been sleeping for hours.

1. Is Mary still typing? (two o’clock)

2. Is Dick still waiting for Lucy? (more than an hour)

3. Is Susan still playing tennis? (ten o’clock)

4. Are they still sitting in the garden? (lunchtime)

5. Is Bill still trying to learn Japanese? (ten years)

6. Are you still waiting to see the boss? (ages)

7. Are they still discussing the project? (nine o’clock)

8. Is Mrs Smith still teaching English? (thirty years)

9. Are Helen and Alice still shopping? (morning)

10. Are you still looking for your glasses? (half an hour)

11. Are you still working for the same company? (I graduated from the University)

12. Is Bill still swimming? (an hour)

4. Make up sentences using the Present Perfect Continuous.

1. Suzy is in her riding boots. (she/ride)

2. Have a rest now. (you/work too hard/lately)

3. Her hands are red and wet. (she/scrub/the floors/for three hours)

4. The children are quite voiceless. (they/sing at the top of their voices/since morning)

5. Trevor and Laura are upset. (they/argue)

6. David is hot. (he/cook)

7. Mark feels very stiff. (he/drive/all day)

8. Henry is annoyed. (he/wait for Claire/long)

5. Put in the verbs using the Present Perfect Continuous.

A journalist visits a film festival and talks to the fans waiting to see the film stars.

Journalist: Good morning. How long (you, wait) to see your favourite stars?

Fan: Well, we arrived at about 6 a.m. and it’s 10 a.m. now so (we, wait) for about four hours.

Journalist: And (you, stand) here all that time?

Fan: No, a friend and I take it in turns because of the rain.

Journalist: Yes, it’s pretty wet. (it, rain) long?

Fan: No, only since about 9 o’clock.

Journalist: And how about you? Are you a great film festival fan?

Fan: Oh, yes. (I, come) to this one for six years now.

Journalist: Six years? That’s as long as (I, write) articles for my newspaper. I see you’ve got an autograph book.

Fan: Yes, I always bring it with me. I’ve got more than 200 autographs.

Journalist: Whose autograph are you hoping to get today?

Fan: Scarlett Johansson’s. (I, try) to get it for years but I still haven’t managed it.