Present Perfect Continuous or Past Continuous?

Exercise 211

If the underlined verbs are correct, put a . If they are wrong, correct them using either the Past Continuous or the Present Perfect Continuous as appropriate.

1. I was expecting the book to end happily, but in fact it was really sad. 

2. The opposition groups were fighting the government on this issue for years, but so far without success.

3. The protesters have been campaigning for some months now to prevent the new road being built.

4. He has been looking nervous until I told him to sit down and relax.

5. Work to repair the bridge has been continuing throughout this summer.

6. Before she retrained as a computer programmer she has been working as a secretary.

7. I was turning to leave when she said, "Maybe you'd like to stay for dinner."

8. I was receiving the magazine for some time and enjoy reading it immediately.

9. I was watching TV until midnight last night.

10. It 's been raining heavily all night.

Exercise 212

Translate the sentences from Russian into English. Mind the use of the Present Perfect Continuous.

1. Почему ты такая бледная? Что случилось? - Ничего. Я просто работала весь день в саду, поэтому я такая усталая сейчас.

2. До этого она резала хлеб.

3. Она навещает всех своих родственников уже в течение месяца.

4. Когда я прихожу домой, моя семья уже ждет меня около часа к ужину.

5. Сегодня так жарко. Я весь день мечтал прийти домой и принять прохладный душ.

6. Чтобы похудеть, она уже два месяца сидит на диете.

7. Он не учился полгода. Сейчас он поправился и продолжает свои занятия.

8. К настоящему моменту команда тренируется уже три недели.

9. Я температурю уже несколько дней. Думаю мне нужно пойти к врачу.

10. Она здесь уже полчаса и из них четверть часа разговаривает по

телефону.

11. Я жду тебя уже час. - Ты меня не заметил. Я здесь уже 10 минут.

12. Ты давно его знаешь? -Я знаю его много лет и знаю очень хорошо.

Мы живем рядом с детства.

Past Perfect Continuous

Exercise 213

Complete the sentences using the Past Perfect Continuous of the verbs in brackets.

Example:

• I _____ (stand) there for nearly a half an hour when I realized I was at the wrong bus stop.

• I had been standing there for nearly a half an hour when I realized I was at the wrong bus stop.

1. Maria's sister _____ (study) at the university for eight years before she

finally passed her exams.

2. "I'm really sorry I was so late last night." "That's OK. We _____ (not / wait) long."

3. The strange thing was that we _____ (just / talk) about ghosts when we heard the noise upstairs.

4. "Robert moved from Manchester to London in 1988." "How long _____ (he / live) in Manchester?"

5. She returned from home where she _____ (stay) with her friends.

6. Sue _____ (cycle) quite fast until she reached the hill.

7. By the smell in the room and his guilty expression I could tell that Alex _____ (smoke) a cigar.

8. The principal called Carmen into his office because she _____ (not / attend) classes.

9. I had to give Peter some money when I found out that he _____ (not / pay) his bills.

10. He told the police that he _____ (not / try) to steal the car. He said he

thought it belonged to his brother.

11.The police _____ (look) for the criminal for two years before they caught

him.

12. When Judy got home, her hair was still wet because she _____ (swim).

13. The patient _____ (wait) in the emergency room for almost an hour before

a doctor finally treated her.

Exercise 214

Read the situations and make sentences from the words in brackets.

1. I was very tired when I arrived home.

(I / work / hard all day) I had been working hard all day.

2. The two boys came into the house. They had a football and they were both

very tired.

(they / play / football) __________________________________________

3. Ann woke up in the middle of the night. She was frightened and didn't know where she was.

(she / dream) ________________________________________________

4. When I got home, Mike was sitting in front of the TV. He had just turned it off.

(he / watch / TV) _____________________________________________

5. Andrew died last week.

(he / suffer / from cancer / for some time) __________________________

6. Mason was arrested.

(people say / he / do / something illegal) ___________________________

7. At least two hundred people were waiting in line to buy tickets to the game.

(Some of them /stand / in line / for more than four hours) _____________

8. Jack suddenly realized that the teacher was asking him a question. He

couldn't answer.

(he / daydream) ______________________________________________

9. When I entered the house something smelt awful.

(someone / cook / and / burn / the meal) __________________________

10. Paul's head ached.

(he / sit / in the sun / too long) __________________________________

Exercise 215