i Affirmative:

I/You /We/ They have been+verb+ing

He/ She/It has been+verb+ing
Form:
Have (present simple)
+been+verb+ing

Negative :
I/You/We/They have not
been+verb+ing
He/She/It has not
been+verb+ing

Use:
Used for an action over a period of time up
to now  we’ve been waiting here for
twenty minutes.

Interrogative:
Have+ I/ You/We/They+been+verb+ing?
Has+He/She/It+been+verb+ing ?

Key Words:
For, since, recently.
Lately and how long

Mrs Jackeline has been staying at the hotel

for three weeks.
 I have been writing this letter since ten
o’clock.
 How long have you been waiting?
 COMPARE

We use the present perfect simple for a complete

action:
 We have finished our tour of Scotland.
 She has just finished her homework.

The choice of form depends on whether we see the action as

continuing over a period of time or as complete. Compare
 Tom has been repairing his bike. He’s got oil on his hands.
Tom has repaired his bike. It goes all right now.
We use the continuous with a phrase saying how long:
 Mandy has been picking apples all afternoon.
We use the simple perfect with a phrase saying how many:
Mandy has picked hundreds f apples.

Form:
Have (present simple) Affirmative:
+been+verb+ing I/You /We/ They have been+verb+ing
He/ She/It has been+verb+ing

Negative :
I/You/We/They have not
been+verb+ing
He/She/It has not
been+verb+ing Key words:
For, since, recently,
lately and how long

Use:
Used for an action over a period of time
up to now  we’ve been waiting here for
twenty minutes.
Mrs Jackeline has been staying at the hotel
for three weeks.
 I have been writing this letter since ten
o’clock.
 How long have you been waiting?
COMPARE
We use the present perfect simple for a complete
action:
 We have finished our tour of Scotland.
 She has just finished her homework.

The choice of form depends on whether we see the action as

continuing over a period of time or as complete. Compare
 Tom has been repairing his bike. He’s got oil on his hands.
Tom has repaired his bike. It goes all right now.
We use the continuous with a phrase saying how long:
 Mandy has been picking apples all afternoon.
We use the simple perfect with a phrase saying how many:
Mandy has picked hundreds f apples.

1) Choose the right option to complete the sentences

My father…………….since he was at university.
(is smoking/smokes/has been smoking)
Justin……………a doctor for ten years.
(has been/ is/ will be)
How long……………….learning English?
(you have been/ have you been/ are you)
Bobby is the best friend I …………………
(ever have/ ever had/ have ever had)
My sister…………………..at university for four years.
(has been studying/ is studying/ studies)
Fred ………………….in his office at the moment
(has been working/ is working/ has worked)
He ………………….for our club since 2001.
2) Put the bracketed verbs in the simple past (is playing/ has perfect
or present been playing/
tenseswas playing)
1-How many books (buy) have you bought since the beginning of the semester?
2-How many tests (take) have you taken since the beginning of the school year?
3-How many countries (visit) did you visit last summer?
4-How many people (meet) have you met since you came here?
5-Today is the 14th of August. I (buy) bought this book 2 weeks ago. I (have) have had this
book since August 1st.It (be) has been with me for 2 weeks.
6-I (meet)…………..Peter in 1999. I (know)……………him for 6 years.
7-I (attend/not)……………….any parties since I came here.
8-It (rain)…………………..since this morning.
9-Last January, I (see)…………..snow for the 1st time in my life. Since then, I (like)
…………………it a lot.
10-The secretary is quite busy. She (type)………………letters for her boss, Mr Smith.
11-You (drive)………………….all day. Let me drive now.
12-She (make)………………cakes. That’s why her hands are covered with flour.
 1) Choose the right option to complete the sentences
My father has been smoking since he was at university.
(is smoking/smokes/has been smoking)
Justin has been a doctor for ten years.
(has been/ is/ will be)
How long have you been learning English?
(you have been/ have you been/ are you)
Bobby is the best friend I have ever had.
(ever have/ ever had/ have ever had)
My sister has been studying at university for four years.
(has been studying/ is studying/ studies)
2) Put the bracketed verbs Fred is working inpast
in the simple or present
his office perfect tenses
at the moment
How many books (buy)………………since the beginning of the semester?
(has been working/ is working/ has worked)
How many tests (take)………………since the beginning
He has been playing for ourofclub
the since
school2001.
year?
How many countries (visit)……………..last summer?
(is playing/ has been playing/ was playing)
How many people (meet)………..since you came here?
Today is the 14th of August. I (buy)………this book 2 weeks ago. I (have)……….this book since
August 1st.It (be)…………….with me for 2 weeks.
I (meet)…………..Peter in 1999. I (know)……………him for 6 years.
I (attend/not)……………….any parties since I came here.
It (rain)…………………..since this morning.
Last January, I (see)…………..snow for the 1st time in my life. Since then, I (like)
…………………it a lot.
The secretary is quite busy. She (type)………………letters for her boss, Mr Smith.
You (drive)………………….all day. Let me drive now.
She (make)………………cakes. That’s why her hands are covered with flour.