Present Perfect

Present Perfect Progressive

The present perfect progressive expresses the meaning “until now” and makes the connection between the past and present.

Since it is progressive, it usually connotes an idea of continuity. It is often used with prepositional phrases:

for + amount of time andfor + amount of time and

since + point in timesince + point in time

I have been living in Londonsince 1999.

I have been living in Londonfor three years.

The present perfect progressive tense is made by placing have beenhave been or has beenhas been immediately in front of the –inging form of the main verb.

The present perfect progressive can sometimes be interchanged with the present perfect tense with little or no deviation in meaning.

Bob has workedhas worked there for nine years.

Bob has been working there for nine years.

However, in cases where the present perfect tense carries the meaning “before now” (non-specific time in the past), the present perfect progressive cannot be used.

I have been seeing that movie five times already.

I have seen that movie five times

already.

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(correct)(correct)

I have spent $400 _____. I have spent $400 _____.

a little while ago a little while ago

so far this month so far this month

last month last month

several days agoseveral days ago

since Fridaysince Friday

I have read three chapters in my textbook _____.

this weekthis week

on my last vacationon my last vacation

so farso far

not yetnot yet

a week agoa week ago

I have seen I have seen Lord Lord of the Ringsof the Rings ______. ______.

three timesthree times

yet yet

a week ago a week ago

since I last saw yousince I last saw you

last Fridaylast Friday

Mr. Foster has been to Hong Kong _____.

yet

many times

yesterday

several days ago

several times

Jeff graduated from high school _____.

last Friday

since June

for two weeks

several days ago

in 2002

lately

last week

these days

recently

It rained a lot _____.

the day before yesterday

Have you written to your parents _____?

yesterday

yet

last week

several days ago

lately

The secretary finished printing the report _____.

a few minutes ago

already

yet

since Monday

earlier today

Have you been to the movies _____?

recently

last week

this week

two weeks ago

in 2003

I read three chapters in my textbook _____.

yesterday

so far

yet

last Friday

these days

I haven’t finished my job _____.

yesterday

already

yet

last Friday

two days ago

She _______ work at 5.

has finished

will finish

is going to finish

is finishing

finished

I don’t think he ______ time to see you.

would have

will have

is going to have

is having

had

The company ________ in profit for the first time next year.

was

has been

is going to be

is being

had been

I ________ to Paris twice this year.

was

have been

am going to be

will be

am

My boss _____ a new house last year.

has bought

have bought

bought

is going to buy

buys

I _____ the last lecture was very confusing.

think

have thought

am thinking

was thinking

thought

My friend _____ to Los Angeles last weekend.

drive

drove

am driving

have driven

was driving

How many people _____ to your party last Saturday?

come

did come

came

have come

is coming

I _____ an interesting program about artificial intelligence on CNN last week.

see

saw

have seen

will see

would see

John Steinbeck _____ about the problems of migrant workers during the Depression.

wrote

writes

has written

will write

would write

Who _____ for President in the last election?

runs

run

did run

ran

has run

Who _____ last night?

do you see

saw you

did you see

have you seen

see you

Billy hasn't played baseball _____ he finished college.

for

since

during

ago

just

The company's new health program began only six months _____.

for

since

during

ago

just

About 10 years _____, students' imagination and creativity dropped off.

for

since

during

ago

just

"I'm nervous because I haven't taught Spanish _____ a long time," Mr. Anderson explained.

for

since

during

ago

just

Japan has experienced broad deflation ______ several years now.

for

since

during

ago

just

The number of jobs held by college-educated workers _____ (rise) by 2.2% over the past year--more than five times the rate for less educated workers.

has risenhas risen

According to Joe Queenan, young people living in the suburbs today are more like people who ______ (grow) up in the 1950s--they have more in common with their grandparents than their parents.

grewgrew

Most states _____ (adopt) "do not call" lists in recent months.

have adoptedhave adopted

Jennifer Capriati ______ (win) the Australian Open in January 2002.

wonwon

The birth rate in Ireland _____ (fall) dramatically since 1980.

has fallen has fallen

Waylon Jennings ______ (sell) more than 40 million albums and singles worldwide, including 16 No. 1 country hits.

has sold has sold

A British study published two years ago found that people who _____ (eat) six meals a day had an average cholesterol level 5 percent lower than people who ate only one or two meals a day.

ateate

Throughout history poverty _____ (be) the mother of invention.

has been has been

Alex was terrified the first time he _____ (fly) in a small plane in 1993.

flewflew

Mr Grant is not here, I’m afraid. He ______.

just left

has just left

has already left

already left

left already

Have you faxed any orders through________?

yesterday

this morning

yet

already

ever

They ____________ dealt adequately with our questions.

have never

never

ever

have already

just

I ______ this Iaptop since 2001. I need a new one.

have

‘ve had

got

have got

had

Our product is very stable. We________ had any complaints yet.

had

haven’t

have

didn’t

don’t

I _________ that story before, and I still don’t believe it.

‘ve been hearing

‘ve heard

heard

hear

We ________ the contract for a Iong time now.

‘ve been discussing

‘ve discussed

discussed

am discussing

Unfortunately, we’ve ______ no new orders since December.

received

been received

been receiving

never received

Oh no! I _______ (spill)

water all over my keyboard!

spilled

‘ve been spilling

‘ve spilled

‘m spilling

She ________ (speak) to that customer for over an hour.

is speaking

‘s been speaking

‘s spoken

was speaking

When ______ (you / get) back from France?

have you got

did you get

you got

are you get

________ (she / give) you those figures yet?

Has she given

Did she give

Has she gave

Is she giving