UNIT 2

Duration of actions and activities

“Language Models”

L.E.L.I. Claudia García Chávez

1

Roger: Vero is that you? I haven’t seen you for years…Vero: Oh my gosh! Roger, how have you

been?Roger: pretty good, and you´ve really

changed!Vero: oh well, I’ve lost some weight and

my hair is longer

Roger: well you look great!! How are you?

Vero: I am doing very well, I got marry two years ago and I have a kid now

Roger: that´s terrific!

Joan: Hi, I’am Joan, and you?

Sara: Sara nice to meet.

Joan: Likewise, how long have you studied

here?

Sara: I’ve studied here for three years, and

you?

Joan: Two years.

Sara: I see, have you ever taken a class with

the professor Jones?

Joan: of course, actually I have taken two of

them and he is very strict

Sara: yeah I have heard about him, but he is a

very intelligent person isn’t he?

Joan: I totally agree with that, he is brilliant

Dear Josh,

I am spending a week in London. I’ve never

seen a place that this city. It is fantastic! I’ve

seen amazing buildings since I came here.

Yesterday, I went to a famous museum, I

didn’t take photos because some one stole

my bag. Luckily, I didn’t have much money

in it.

Besides that bad moment, I really enjoy

spend my time here; as you know I like tea

but I haven’t ever drunk black tea, so

yesterday I did it and it was delicious!

I miss you a lot, I hope to see you soon.Bye for now

Caro

I’ve had a bad day. So far, I have brought several customers the wrong food, I have broken a lot of dishes, and no one has left me tips!Somebody called me up to tell me that I’ve bought a new bike for my son, but I don’t have any son!This day has been the worst of my whole life.

Have / Has + Past Participle

Time expressions

o Alreadyo Evero Justo Nevero recently

o Stillo Yeto Once, twiceo Three, four (etc)

times

It can describe actions or situations that occurred at an unspecified time in the past

e.g. I´ve been to Madrid

My sister has just returned from there

Uses

Uses The present perfect also refers to repeated past

actions e.g.

I’ve gone there five times.

She has visited London every year

Uses

To indicate something which started in the past and continues until now.

e.g.

I have lived in New York for nine years.

We have been here since Friday

Uses To indicate something which occurred recently.

e.g.

She has slept much recently

I have been sick lately

Statements with the Present Perfect Tense.

Affirmative Statement

I have worked there

I’ve worked there

Negative Statements

I have not worked there

I haven’t worked there

Long Forms

Contracted Forms

Questions with the Present Perfect Tense

Have you gone there?

Has she gone there?

Possible answers

Yes, I have. No, I haven’t

Yes, she has. No, she hasn’t

Questions

Malika : Have you been waiting at the bus stop for long, Yang?

Yang : No, I haven't been waiting for long. I 've been waiting here about 15 minutes.

Malika : Well, I am in a hurry. I have to get to class. I have been studying for our test today for the past three days.

Yang : Yes, you better hurry. But, recently, the buses have been coming a little late.

Malika : Well, I have been preparing for so long that I think that even if I miss the first few minutes of class, I can still do well.

Yang : Good luck!

Malika : Have you been waiting at the bus stop for long, Yang?

Yang : No, I haven't been waiting for long. I 've been waiting here about 15 minutes.

Malika : Well, I am in a hurry. I have to get to class. I have been studying for our test today for the past three days.

Yang : Yes, you better hurry. But, recently, the buses have been coming a little late.

Malika : Well, I have been preparing for so long that I think that even if I miss the first few minutes of class, I can still do well.

Yang : Good luck!

Malika : Have you been waiting at the bus stop for long, Yang?

Yang : No, I haven't been waiting for long. I 've been waiting here about 15 minutes.

Malika : Well, I am in a hurry. I have to get to class. I have been studying for our test today for the past three days.

Yang : Yes, you better hurry. But, recently, the buses have been coming a little late.

Malika : Well, I have been preparing for so long that I think that even if I miss the first few minutes of class, I can still do well.

Yang : Good luck!

Malika : Have you been waiting at the bus stop for long, Yang?

Yang : No, I haven't been waiting for long. I 've been waiting here about 15 minutes.

Malika : Well, I am in a hurry. I have to get to class. I have been studying for our test today for the past three days.

Yang : Yes, you better hurry. But, recently, the buses have been coming a little late.

Malika : Well, I have been preparing for so long that I think that even if I miss the first few minutes of class, I can still do well.

Yang : Good luck!

Journalist: Good morning. How long have you been waiting for to see your favorite

stars?Fan: Well, we arrived at about 6 a.m. and it’s 10 a.m.

nowJournalist: And have you been standing here all that

time?Fan: No, a friend and I take it in turns because of the

rain.Journalist :Yes, it’s pretty wet. Has it been raining

long?Fan: No, only since about 9 o’ clock.

Journalist: And how about you? Are you a great film festival fan?

Fan: Oh, yes. I have been coming to this one for six years now.

Journalist: Six years? That’s as long as I have been writing articles for my newspaper. I see you’ve got an autograph book.

Fan : Yes, I always bring it with me. I’ve got more than 200 autographs.

Journalist: Whose autographs are you hoping to get today?

Fan: Scarlett Johansson’s. I’ve been trying to get it for years but I still haven’t managed it.

To: veri_to@gmail.comFrom: ca_o@gmail.comDate: Wednesday, December 14th,2011Subject: hi!!

Dear Vero, As you know, I’ve been waiting for this trip for two years, but I’m finally here. People are very kind, they have been helping me all the time. Lately, I have been working very hard in my project because my boss wants it immediately; however, I’ve been having fun in my free time. My boyfriend has been calling me up all the mornings, he says that he misses me. Can you believe that? Anyway, I hope to see you soon!

Take careCaro

Hi Peter, my project is

about the multiple intelligences. I have been working on it for

a year and I am very proud of it; Andy has been saying that he has new information

so, we’ve been waiting for you at 6:00pm in the library okSee you then

Josh

Have/Has + been+ verb-ing

Time expressions

o For o Sinceo So faro How long (with questions)

Uses Puts emphasis on the duration or course of an

action (not the result)e.g.

She has been writing for two hours..

We have been working hard.

Uses Action that recently stopped or is still going one.g.

I have been living here since 2001.

My mother has been working for six years.

Uses Finished action that influenced the presente.g.

I have been working all afternoon.

It has been raining for hours.

Statements with the Present Continuous

Affirmative Statements

She has been eating all the day

I’ve been studying hard

Negative Statements

She has not eating all the day

I haven’t been studying hard

Long Forms

Contracted Forms

Questions with the Present Perfect Continuous

Questions

Have you been making mistakes?

Has it been causing problems?

Possible Answers

Yes, I have. No, I haven’t.

Yes, it has. No, it hasn’t.

References http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-perfect-progressiv

e

Werner P. & Nelson J.(2007). Interaction 2 Grammar. McGraw-Hill: New York

http://www.aulafacil.com/CursoIngles/Clase13.htm

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-perfect-continuous.htm

http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/tensepresperfcont.htm

Adapted by Carolina Juárez Pintor