Past Perfect Continuous ( I had been doing) Exercises

UNIT 22 Exercises

22.1   Read the situation and then write a sentence.

Example: The two boys came into the house. One had a black eye and the other had a cut lip. (they/fight) They had been fighting.

1.   Tom was watching TV. He was feeling very tired.(he/study/hard all day) He___________________________________________

2.   When I walked into the room, it was empty. But it smelled of cigarettes.
 (Somebody/smoke/in the room) Somebody_______________________________________________

3.   When Mary came back from the beach. she looked very red from the sun.(she/lie/in the sun too long)__________________________________________________

4.   The two boys came into the house. They had a football, and they were both very tired.
(they/play/football)________________________________________________

5.   Ann woke up in the middle of the night. She was frightened, and she didn't know where
she was, (she/dream)_______________________________________________

22.2   Read the situation and then write a sentence.

Example: We began playing football. After half an hour there was a terrible storm.
We had been playing for half an hour when there was a terrible storm.

1.   The orchestra began playing at the concert. After about ten minutes a man in the audience suddenly began shouting.
The orchestra_____________________________________for about ten minutes when_________________________________________________

2.   I had arranged to meet Sue in a cafe. I arrived and began waiting. After 20 minutes l realized that I had come to the wrong cafe.       
I_______________________________________________when I_____________________________________________________

3.   Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins went to live in the south of France. Six months later Mr. Jenkins died.
They______________________________________________when____________________________________________________


22.3   Put the verb into the correct form: past perfect continuous (I had been doing) or past continuous (I was doing).

Examples: Sue was leaning against the wall, out of breath. she had been running. (run)
I tried to catch Sue but I couldn't. She was running (run) very fast.

1.   Jim was on his hands and knees on the floor. He was_________________________(look) for his
contact lens.

2.   We________________________________(walk) along the road for about 20 minutes when a car stopped and the driver offered us a lift.

3.   When I arrived, everyone was sitting around the table with their mouths full. They________________________________(eat).

4.   When I arrived, everyone was sitting around the table and talking. Their mouth
were empty but their stomachs were full. They______________________________________(eat).

5.   When I arrived, Ann___________________________________ (wait) for me. She was annoyed because I was late, and she_____________________________________________(wait) for a very long time.

Past Perfect Continuous ( I had been doing)

UNIT 22 Past Perfect Continuous.

A.   Study this example situation: 
 
Yesterday morning I got up and looked out the window. The sun was shining, but the ground was very wet.

It had been raining.

It wasn't raining when I looked out the window;  the sun was shining. But it had been raining. That's why the ground was wet.

Had been raining is the past perfect continuous tense:

I/he/she (etc.) had (=I'd/he'd/she'd, etc.) been doing.

Here are some more examples:

• When the boys came into the house, their clothes were dirty, their hair was a mess, and one had a black eye. They had been fighting.

• I was very tired when I arrived home. I'd been working hard all day.

B.   You can use the past perfect continuous to say how long something had been happening before something else happened:

• The soccer game had to be stopped. They had been playing for half an hour when there was a terrible storm

• Ken had been smoking for 30 years when he finally gave it up.

C.   the past perfect continuous ( I had been doing) is the past of the present perfect continuous (I had been doing). Compare:

Present                                                                                     Past
How long have you been waiting?(until now)                How long had you been waiting                   He's out of breath. He has been                                           when the bus finally came?
running.                                                                                 He was out of breath. He had been running.

D.   Compare the past perfect continuous (I had been doing) with the past continuous (I was
doing)

• when I looked out the window, it had been raining. (=It wasn't raining when I looked out; it had stopped.

• When I looked out the window, it was raining. (= Rain was falling at the time looked out.)

E.   Some verbs (for example, know) cannot be used in the continuous form.

Present Perfect with how long, for, since Exercises

UNIT 18 Exercises

18.1   Are these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.

Examples: How long have Bob and Alice been married?                  RIGHT
                   I know Bob for five years.                                                    WRONG-have known


1.   Sue and Alan are married since July.                                              ___________

2.   It is raining all day.                                                                            ___________

3.   How long has George been unemployed?                                      ___________

4.   Have you always been living in this house?                                  ___________

5.   How long does en have a beard?                                                     ____________

6.   How long do you know Ann?                                                           ____________

7.   She has been sick for a long time.                                                   ____________


18.2   Write questions with how long?

Examples: Jim is studying Chinese.  How long has he been studying Cninese?
                   I know Bob.  How long have you known Bob

1.   My sister is married.  How long_______________________________________________

2.   Carol is on vacation.  How long_______________________________________________

3.   I live in Australia.__________________________________________________

4.   It is snowing.____________________________________________________

5.   Jack smokes.____________________________________________________

6.   I know about her problem.____________________________________________________

7.   Robert and Jill are looking for an apartment.______________________________________________

8.   Diana teaches English in Brazil._________________________________________________

9.   Dennis is in love with Liz.__________________________________________________

10.   John has a car.____________________________________________________


18.3   Read a sentence and then write another sentence with since or for

Example: I know Bob. (for five years) I have known Bob for five years.

1.   Jack lives in Chicago.  (since he was born)  Jack_______________________________________________

2.   Mary is unemployed. (since April) Mary___________________________________________________

3.   Ann has a bad cold. (for the last few days) ___________________________________________________

4.   I want to go to the moon. (since I was a child)________________________________________________

5.   My is studying languages in college. (for two years)___________________________________________

6.   Tim and Jane are working in Peru. (since February)____________________________________________

7.   My cousin is in the army. (since he was 18)______________________________________________________

8.   They are waiting for us. (for half an hour)_________________________________________________________

Present Perfect with how long, for, since

UNIT 18 Present perfect ( I have/ I have been doing ) with how long, for, since

A.   Study this example situation:

Daniel and Marie are married. They got married exactly 20 years ago, so today is their 20th wedding anniversary.

They have been married for 20 years.

We use the present perfect to say how long something has existed or how long something has been happening.
                                 {   How have they been married?
they are married  {
                                 {   They have been married for 20 years.


B.   We use the present perfect continuous (I have been doing) to say how long something has been happening. Note that the action is still happening now.

• I've been studying English for a long time.

• Sorry I'm late. Have you been waiting long? 

• It's been raining since I got up this morning.

Sometimes the action is a repeated action:

• Liz has been driving for ten years. 

•  How long have you been smoking?

The continuous (I have been doing) or the simple (I have done) can be used for actions repeated over a long period:

• I've been collecting/I've collected stamps since I was a child

C.   We use the simple (I have done) for situations that exist for a long time (especially if we
say always). Note that the situation still exists now.

• My father has always worked hard. (not has always been working)

We use the continuous situations over a shorter time. Compare:

• John has been living in China since January.

• John has always lived in China.

D.   Some verbs (for example be, have, know) are not normally used in the continuous:

• How long have Bob and Alice been married?

• Sue has had a cold for the past week. (not has been having)

• Bill and I have known each other since high school

E.   Do not use the simple present (I do) or present continuous (I am doing) to say how long something has been happening:

• I've been waiting here for an hour (not I am waiting)

• How long have you known Jane? (not do you know)

Present Perfect Continuous or Present Perfect Simple?

UNIt 17 Present Perfect Continuous or Present Perfect Simple?

A.   Study these example situations:

Ann's clothes are covered in paint                              The ceiling was white. Now it's blue

She has been painting the ceiling.                             She has painted the ceiling.

Has been painting is the present                               Has painted is the present

perfect continuous tense.                                              perfect simple tense.

We are interested in the action. It                               This time, the thing is
does not matter whether something                          that something has been finished. We

has been finished or not. In the                                    are interested in the result of the
example, the action has not been                                action, not in the action itself.
finished.

                                              Here are some pairs of examples:

Tom's hands are very dirty. He                                    The car is working again now. Tom

has been fixing the car.                                                has fixed it.

You've been smoking too much                                 Somebody has smoked all my cigarettes The lately. You should smoke less.                                       packet is empty.

                                                                           

B.   We use the continuous form to say                        We use the simple form to say how

how long something has been                                       much we have done, how many things we have happening:                                                                        done, or how many times we have done            1.   Ann has been writing letters                                something now:

all day.                                                                               1.    Ann has written ten letters today.  

2.   How long have you been reading                       2.   How many pages of that book have

that book?                                                                          you read?

3.    Jim has been playing tennis                                  3.    Jim has played tennis three times      since 2:00.                                                                        this week.

Present Perfect Continuous ( I have been doing ) exercises

UNIT 16 Exercises

16.1   Read the situation and then write a sentence with the present perfect continuous (I have been doing)

Example: Carlos is out of breath. (he/run) He has been running

1.   Jane is very tired. (she/work/hard)____________________________________________

2.   Bob has a black eye, and Bill has a cut lip. (Bob and Bill/fight)_______________________________________

3.   George has just come back from the beach. He is very red. (he/lie/in the sun)______________________________________________

4.   Janet is hot and tired. (she/play/tennis)_________________________________________


16.2   Ask a question for each situation.

Example: Your friend's hands are covered with grease. (you/work/on the car?) 
Have you been working on the car?
1.   You see a little boy. His eyes are red and watery. (you/cry?)
____________________________________________________________

2.   You have just arrived to meet your friend, who is waiting for you. (you/wait/long?)
____________________________________________________________

3.   Your friend comes in. Her face and hands are very dirty. (what/you/do?)
_____________________________________________________________


16.3  say how long something has been happening.

Example: It is raining now. It began raining two hours ago.
It has been raining for two hours.

1.   Kevin is studying. He began studying three hours ago
He________________________________________for three hours.

2.   I'm learning Spanish. I started learning Spanish in December
I_________________________________________since December.

3.   Ann is looking for a job. She began looking six months ago.
__________________________________________for six months.

4.   Mary is working in Toronto. She started working there on January 18th.
___________________________________________since January 18th.

5.   Mark smokes. He started smoking five years ago.
___________________________________________for five years.


16.4   Ask questions with how long.

Example: It is raining.  How long has it been raining?

1.   Sue is reading War and Peace.  How long__________________________________

2.   Mike plays chess.  How_______________________________________

3.   Jim sells washing machines.  _____________________________________________

4.   Linda is living on Main Street.  ____________________________________________

Present Perfect Continuous ( I have been doing )

UNIT 16 Present Perfect Continuous

A.   Study this example situation:

Is it raining?

No, it isn't, but the ground is wet.

It has been raining.

This is the present perfect continuous tense:

I/we/they/you    have           (= I've, etc.)   }   been doing.

he/she/it                 has           (= he's, etc.)   }   been doing.


We use the present perfect continuous when we talk about an action that began in the past and has recently stopped or just stopped. Here are some examples:

• You're out of breath. Have you been running?

• Why are your clothes so dirty? What have you been doing?

• I've been talking to Tom about your problem, and he thinks . . .

B.   We also use the present perfect continuous to ask or say how long something has been happening. This time the action or situation began in the past and is still happening or has just stopped. Study this example:

It is raining now. It began to rain two hours ago, and it is still raining.

It has been raining for two hours.

We often use the present perfect continuous in this way, especially with how long, for, and since.


Here are some more examples:

• How long have you been studying English?

• They've been waiting here for over an hour.

• I've been watching television since 2:00.

• George hasn't been feeling very well lately.

• Have you been working hard today?

You can also use the present perfect continuous (with how long, for, and since) for actions repeated over a period of time:

• She has been playing tennis since she was eight.

• How long have you been smoking?

Past continuous ( I was doing ) Exercises

UNIT 12 Exercises

12.1   Here is a list of some things that Ann did yesterday (and the times at which she did them):

1.  8:45-9:15  had breakfast                              4.  12:45-1:30 had lunch

2.  9:15-10:00 read the newspaper                  5.  2:30-3:30 washed some clothes

3.  10:00 12:00 cleaned her apartment           6.  4:00-6:00 watched TV

Now write sentences saying what she was doing at these times:

1. At 9:00 she was having breakfast.                4. At 1:00__________________________________

2. At 9:30 she________________________________        5. At 3:00__________________________________

3. At 11:00____________________________________       6. At 5:00__________________________________


12.2   A group of people were staying in a hotel. One evening the fire alarm went off. Use the words in parentheses to make sentences saying what each person was doing at the time.
Example: (Don/take/a bath) Don was taking a bath

1.  (Ann/write/a letter in her room)  Ann________________________________________________

2.  (George/get/to go out) George____________________________________________

3.  (Carol and Dennis/have/dinner) Carol and Dennis____________________________________________

4.  (Tom/make/a phone call) Tom_____________________________________________


12.3   Make sentences from the words in parentheses. Put the verbs into the correct form: simple past (I did) or past continuous (I was doing).

Example: (I/fall/asleep when I/watch/TV).  I fell asleep when I was watching TV

1.  (the phone /ring/while I/ take a shower)   The phone_______________________________________

2.  (it/begin/to rain while I/walk home)    __________________________________________________

3.  (we/see/an accident while we/wait/for the bus)_________________________________________________


12.4  Put the verb into the correct form: past continuous or simple past.

Example: While Tom was caaking. (cook) dinner, the phone_____________(ring)

1.  George_____________(fall) off the ladder while he________________(paint) the ceiling.

2.  Last night I____________(read) in bed when suddenly I______________(hear) a scream.

3.  __________________(you/watch) TV when I called you?

4.  Ann______________(wait) for me when I______________arrive

5.  I___________________(not/drive) very fast when the accident_________________(happen)

6.  I________________(break) a plate last night. I_________________(wash) the dishes when it (slip) out of my hand.

7.  Tom_________________(take) a picture of me while I_________________(not/look)

8.  We________________(not/go) out because it________________(rain)

9.  What_________________(you/do) at this time yesterday?

10.  I___________________(see) Carol at the party. She________________(wear) a new dress.

Past Continuous ( I was doing )

UNIT 12

A.  Study this example situation:
Yesterday Dave and Jim played tennis. They began at 10:00 and finished at 11:00.

What were they doing at 10:30?
They were playing tennis (at 10:30).

"They were playing" means that they were in the middle of playing tennis. They had started playing, but they hadn't finished.

This is the past continuous tense:

I/he/she                  was     }    playing
we/they/you         were    }    playing
 

We use the past continuous to say that someone was in the middle of doing something at
a certain time. The action or situation had already started before this time but hadn't finished:

• This time last year I was living in Brazil.

• What were you doing at last night?

B.  The past continuous not tell us whether an action was finished or not. Perhaps it was finished, perhaps not. Compare:

• Dan was cooking dinner. (past continuous) = He was in the middle of cooking dinner and we don't know whether he finished cooking it.

• Dan cooked dinner. (simple past) He began and finished it.

C.  We often use the past continuous (I was doing) and the simple past (I did) together to say that something happened in the middle of something else:

• Dan burned his hand while he was cooking dinner.

• I saw Jim in the park. He was sitting on the grass and reading a book.

• It was raining when I got up.

• While I was working in the garden, I hurt my back.

But to say that one thing happened after another, use the simple past.

• Last night Sue was taking when the phone rang. She got out of the bathtub and answered the phone.

Compare:

• When Helen arrived, we were having dinner. (past continuous)= We had already started dinner before Helen arrived.

• When Helen arrived, we had dinner. (simple past)= Helen arrived and then we had dinner.