The Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The present prefect continuous tense puts more emphasis on the continuity of the action

S + has / have + been + V1 + ing + O (+)

Have / Has + S + been + V1 + ing + O (?)

S + has/have not + been + V1 + ing + O (-)

Listening

How long have you been driving?

Mr. Freeman     : Now, let me see Ah yes- Always put on lights when –

Mr. Freeman     }

Woman}              : Good morning. Are you the examiner?                                                                                                                                              
Woman                : Oh sorry, are you the examiner?                                                                                           

Mr. Freeman     : No, are you?

Woman                                : I’m taking my driving-test.

Mr. Freeman     : Oh, so am I.

Woman                : Oh, hello. Have you been waiting long?

Mr. Freeman     : what...er. . .no, only a few minutes.

Woman                                : Oh, do you think you’ll pass?                                                                                                                                   
Mr. Freeman     : Pass? Me? Oh, yes, yes.

Woman                : How long have you been driving?

Mr. Freeman     : For two weeks.

Woman                : Two weeks!

Mr. Freeman     : Yes, I’ve been practicing a lot. I’ve been practicing every day.

Woman                : oh. Are you nervous?

Mr. Freeman     : Me / nervous? Ha! No, I’m not nervous. Why?

Woman                : Well, since I came in, you’ve been smoking three cigarettes at the same time.

Mr. Freeman     : Have I ? Oh yes. But I’m not nervous. I never get nervous

Woman                : You’re not nervous! you’ve been smoking because you’re nervous. You’re really                                           nervous, aren’t you?
Mr. Freeman     : No, I’m not.

Woman                                : Of course you’re nervous,

Mr. Freeman     : I’m not nervous!

Examiner             : Mr. Freeman?

Mr. Freeman     : Uh-y-y-y-yes?

Examiner             : T-t-turn left at the corner, please, Mr. F-f-freeman.

Mr. Freeman     : Certainly.

Examiner             : Er...I said : ‘left’ Mr. Freeman. You’ve turned right.

Mr. Freeman     : Oh, I’m sorry, Er...you’re not nervous, are you? You look very nervous. Well, don’t                                       worry. I didn’t start driving yesterday, you know.

Examiner             : Oh really? when did you start driving?

Mr. Freeman     : When did I start?                                                                                                                                                          
Examiner             : Yes, how long have you been driving?

Mr. Freeman     : I’ve been driving for two weeks.

Examiner             : Two weeks?

Mr. Freeman     : Yes, I’ve been driving since April 25^th.

Examiner             : I see.

Mr. Freeman     : And I’ve been practicing a lot. I’ve been practicing every day.

Examiner             : Here?

Examiner             : Mr. Freeman – I’m very sorry. You’ve only been driving for two weeks. On this test,                                     when I said ‘Turn left’ you usually turned right. You usually turned right. You didn’t stop                                                at any cross-roads. You hit three other cars, and…well, you are a very dangerous driver.

Mr. Freeman     : Yes, but have I passed the test?

Reading

April fool’s day

                “To end our special news bulletin” said the voice of the television announcer, “we are taking you to the macaroni fields of Calabria”. Macaroni has been grown in this area for over six hundred years. Two of the leading growers, Giuseppe Moldova and Riccardo Brabante, tell me that they have been expecting a splendid crop this year and harvesting has begun earlier than usual. Here you can see two workers who, between them, have just finished cutting three cart-loads of golden brown macaroni stalks.

                The whole village has been working day and night gathering and threshing this year’s crop before the September rains, on the right, you can see Mrs. Brabante herself. She has been helping her husband for thirty years now. Mr. Brabante is talking to the manager of the local factory where the crop is processed. This last scene show you what will happen at the end of the harvest: the famous Calabrian macaroni-eating competition ! Signor Fratelli, the present champion has won it every year since 1961. And that ends our  special bulletin for today, Thursday, April 1^st. We are now returning you the studio.

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