GRAMMAR Exercise B Present Perfect Progressive Tense [B1+]

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE TENSE

English verb tenses give important information about

timeline
if something is over or still happening , and even…
how often it happens!
links between events

This is very important in understanding relevant patient background and current complaints.

All English verbs have

an infinitive form
a simple present or first form,
a simple past or second form
a perfect or third form.

We use present perfect progressive for

events that started in the past and are still going on

have/has + been + main verb-ing

Present perfect progressive sentences

1. Positive sentences

She’s (She has) been complaining about nausea for weeks.
I’ve (I have) been having episodes of diarrhea and constipation since Monday.
I’ve been thinking about having a hernia operation.

2. Negative sentences

Here, ‘not’ comes after ‘have’ or ‘has’

She’s (She has) not been complaining about headaches recently.
I’ve (I have) not been having anymore diarrhea.

Present perfect progressive questions

1. Positive sentences

We only use the helping verbs have and been.

The word order changes.

have OR has + (person/place/thing) + been + …-ing …?

Have the stomach pains been getting better?
Has the occupational therapist been helping you at home?
Have we been giving you enough support?

2. Negative sentences

Here, ‘not’ comes after ‘have’ or ‘has’

So why haven’t you been taking the medication?
Why hasn’t she been getting out and about more?

Present perfect progressive w-questions (who, what, when, where, why, which, how)

In w-questions, the w-word goes before the ‘have’ or ‘has’.

Who has been managing your IBS up until now?
What have you been taking for the pain and diarrhea?
How has your elderly mother been managing at home alone?

SPEAKING EXERCISE B

Practice repeating ALOUD each example sentence in the lesson above. Focus on the common collocations, RUNNING THEM TOGETHER until they flow as ONE EXPRESSION. The collocations are underlined.