1.5. Present Perfect Continuous

Exercise 41. Translate into Russian and comment on the use of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. It’s horrible. Fred has been singing songs for the whole evening. I can’t stand any more.

2. I have been traveling in search of adventures for all my life.

3. We have been going sightseeing since early morning. We are tired a bit.

4. You feel dizzy because you’ve been lying in the sun for too long!

5. John has been saving money since August to buy a computer.

6. 'How long have you been looking for her?' 'For three hours.'

7. Oh no! Someone’s been reading my diary again.

8. Who has been playing with the remote control? It doesn't work!

9. You are out of breath. Have you been running?

10. Why are clothes so dirty? What have you been doing?

Exercise 42. Make the following sentences interrogative and then negative.

1. He has been painting this fence for a long lime.

2. We have been looking for that cafe for half an hour.

3. The boys have been trying to fix that bike since morning.

4. The tourists have been waiting for the guide since four o'clock.

5. You have been talking for almost an hour without stop­ping.

6. They have been repairing the road for the last five years.

7. It has been raining for two hours.

8. That man over there is bright red. I think he’s been sunbathing.

Exercise 43. Ask questions to the following sentences beginning with the words in brackets.

1. Someone has been looking through my things. (Why?)

2. She has been packing her suitcase since morning. (Why?)

3. Arthur has been driving for six hours without any rest.(How?)

4. She has been washing up since breakfast. (What?)

5. Ed has been playing with his dog since morning. (Where?)

6. Her husband has been watching TV since break­fast. (What?)

7. They have been holding New Year parties for two weeks. (Where?)

8. Tom’s hands are very dirty. He has been repairing the car. (How long?)

Exercise 44. Paraphrase the following sentences using the words in brackets and conjunctions FOR and SINCE.

Example:

They are working here. (Monday)  They have been working here since Monday.

He is waiting for us. (Half an hour)  He has been wailing for us for half an hour.

1. He is working hard. (he entered the University)

2. Tom is watching TV. (two hours)

3. They are looking for a new house. (the last few months)

4. He is traveling a lot. (winter)

5. They are fixing their car. (yesterday)

6. Tony is walking his dog. (fifteen minutes)

7. My friend is learning Spanish. (two years)

8. Linda is traveling around Europe. (May)

9. Bill is making films. (he left college)

Exercise 45. Fill in: FOR and SINCE.

• David Jones has been working for the same company ____ 20 years.

• He has been a supervisor ____ 1991 and he quite likes the work, but he has been thinking about changing jobs ____ he discovered that he has a real talent for garden design.

• He has been studying garden design part-time ____ two years and ____ last month he has been preparing for his final examination.

• David has been interested in gardening ____ he was a child and he has known ____ years that his present job was not the best one for him.

• He has been much happier ____ he started the course and ____ weeks he has been looking forward to the tour that his college has organized.

• ____ David started the course, his wife has become interested as well and now they are talking about setting up a business together.

Exercise 46. Open the brackets and put the verbs into the proper tense, either the Present Continuous or the Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. Don't come in. He (take) an exam. He (take) his exam for half an hour already.

2. Where are the children? — They (play volleyball). They (play volleyball) since two o'clock.

3. They still (discuss) the article? But they (do) it since twelve o'clock!

4. Nick (come) round to see us tonight.

5. The prices (go up). They (rise) since l991.

6. What a strong wind (blow)! It (blow) since yesterday.

7. Do you see what the child (do) with your hat? Take it from him.

Exercise 47. Choose the right tenses (Present Continuous, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous, Past Simple).

1. It (is / was / has been) snowing since I (have got up / got up).

2. Things (have been / were) difficult since Carol (has lost / lost) her job.

3. Since Jake (has taken up / took up) the trumpet, nobody (has / has had / had) any peace.

4. He (has been / was) quite different since he (has got / got) married.

5. Since she (has gone / went) to live in France we (haven't heard / didn't hear) anything from her.

6. He (has been / was) strange ever since he (has had / had) the accident.

Exercise 48. Put in Present Perfect Continuous or Present Perfect Simple.

1. That man (stand) outside for hours.

2. The castle (stand) on that hill for 900 years.

3. How long (you wait)?

4. I (wait) long enough. I'm going.

5. Her family (farm) this land since the tenth century.

6. She (only farm) for two years, but she's doing very well.

7. I (learn) German for six years.

8. I (learn) most of the irregular verbs.

9. My mother (do) all her Christmas shopping.

10. I (do) Christmas shopping all day.

Exercise 49. Put the verb in brackets in the correct tense (Present Perfect Simple, Present Perfect Continuous, Present Simple or Present Continuous.

A: What are you doing?

B: I (write) a letter.

A: You (sit) at the desk for hours. Is it a difficult letter?

B: Yes. I (decide) to resign from my job.

A: But how do you know you don't like it? You (do) it for a week.

B: I do like it. But I (offer — passive) a better one, and I'm going to accept it. It's in Brazil, and I always (want) to go to Brazil. I (not like) living in cold climates.

A: But how you (know) if you'll like it there? You (never be) out of England before.

B: That doesn't matter. Some friends of mine (live) there at the moment. They'll look after me.

A: You're very lucky, really. I (try) to find a job for months. I (be) to endless interviews, and I (turn down — passive) each time, but you got two jobs in a week.

B: Well, obviously you (apply) for the wrong kinds of job. Don't worry. You'll find one soon.

A: I (hope) so.

Exercise 50. Open the brackets and put the verbs into the proper tense (Present Simple, Present Continuous, Present Perfect Continuous or the Present Perfect Simple).

1. It (snow) steadily the whole week and it still (snow).

2. We (climb) for six hours already, but we (not reach) the top of the mountain yet.

3. The pain already (go) but the child still (cry).

4. The workers (work) very hard these two weeks, they (be) busy with the house redecorating.

5. He (solve) the crossword puzzle for an hour and he (say) he (be) about to solve it as he (think) over the last word.

6. Doctors and scientists (show) recently the benefit of fish in the diet.

7. He (finish) the first part of his book and now he (write) the second. He (work) at his book for two years.

8. Dustin Hoffman who (play) the hero, (give) a fine performance.

9. Why your hair (be) wet? You (swim)?

Exercise 51. Translate into English.

1.Он наш тренер с тех пор, как я начал иг­рать в этой команде.

2. Они уже приняли решение (take a decision) по этому вопросу? - Нет. Они все еще спорят (argue). Они обсуждают этот вопрос уже два часа и еще не пришли ни к какому решению.

3. Утро было солнечное, но с одиннадцати погода изменилась, и сейчас идет дождь.

4. Чем вы занимаетесь с тех пор, как мы расста­лись?

5. Мэри уже приехала? — Да, она уже здесь два дня. Она приехала в пятницу.

6. Студенты пишут контрольную работу уже два часа. Пока только двое сда­ли работы.