Talk about an activity that started earlier and is still going onتحدّث عن نشاط بدأ وما زال مستمرًا

The idea, simply

The present perfect continuous is have or has been + verb-ing. It describes an activity that started in the past and is still going on, or has just stopped and you can see the result: I have been waiting for twenty minutes. You look tired. Have you been running? Use it with for, since, and How long. State verbs such as know and like stay in the present perfect: I have known him for years.

Examples

• I have been waiting here for twenty minutes.

• How long have you been learning English?

• She has been working here since March.

Lesson words

• waitينتظر
  Sorry for making you wait.
• lookيبدو
  You look happy today.
• all morningطوال الصباح
  I have been busy all morning.
• learnيتعلم
  He is learning to drive.
• sinceمنذ
  It has been cold since Monday.

Lesson exercises

1. Put the words in the correct order.

   Words: been / for / have / here / I / minutes. / twenty / waiting

   Answer

   I have been waiting here for twenty minutes.

2. Complete the gap: It has ___ raining all morning.

   Answer

   been

3. Choose the correct English sentence.

   • They have been living in Giza for two years.
   • They have living in Giza for two years.
   • They are living in Giza since two years.
   Answer

   They have been living in Giza for two years.

4. Which sentence is correct?

   • I have known her since 2019.
   • I have been knowing her since 2019.
   • I know her since 2019.
   Answer

   I have known her since 2019.

   Know is a state verb that does not take -ing, so we use the present perfect have known.

5. Explain how long you have been doing something.

   Model answer

   I have been waiting here for twenty minutes.

   Compare your answer with the model and check word order, capitals, and punctuation.