UNIT 6 Present perfect progressive
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Present perfect progressive Esta forma verbal se emplea cuando interesa destacar la acción en sí misma más que el resultado; no se precisa si la acción ha finalizado o no (la acción comenzó en el pasado y puede que acabe de terminar o que incluso continúe). Example: I have been reading a book. (Resalto lo que he estado haciendo; no indico si he finalizado el libro o no)
Este tiempo se utiliza también para indicar la duración de una acción que comenzó en el pasado (y que acaba de concluir o aún continúa). Example: I have been playing tennis for two hours. I have been waiting for him for 1 hour. (Puede que la otra persona acabe de llegar o que yo aún siga esperando; el contexto determinará un sentido u otro)
El empleo de este tiempo indica que el emisor considera que la duración ha sido larga.
Structure Positive
Negative
I / you / we / they
I have been speaking.
I have not been speaking.
he / she / it
He has been speaking. He has not been speaking.
Question Have I been speaking? Has he been speaking?
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Exceptions in Spelling Exceptions in spelling when adding ing
Example
final e is dropped (but: ee is not changed)
come – coming (but: agree – agreeing)
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
sit – sitting
l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled (in British English) travel – travelling final ie becomes y
lie – lying
For and Since with Present Perfect Continuous Tense We often use for and since with the present perfect tense. We use for to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years. We use since to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday. FOR
SINCE
a period of time
a point in past time x
20 minutes
6.15pm
three days
Monday
6 months
January
4 years
1994
2 centuries
1800
a long time
I left school
ever
the beginning of time
etc
etc
Examples: I have been studying for 3 hours. I have been watching TV since 7pm. Tara hasn't been feeling well for 2 weeks. Tara hasn't been visiting us since March. INGLES 4
He has been playing football for a long time. He has been living in Bangkok since he left school.
Recently and Lately with Present Perfect Continuous Tense You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning. Examples: What have you been doing? Recently, I have been feeling really tired. He has been watching too much television lately. Have you been exercising lately? Mary has been feeling a little depressed. Lisa has not been practicing her English.
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