MEETING 7:

Expressions to describe what someone has been doing

A. OBJECTIVES
In this meeting, students will learn about how to express and describe what someone
has been doing. In this activity, a few more expressions that students should learn in order
to express and to describe what someone has been doing to others in social situations are
provided. This activity will involve students devising different communication situations
so they can practice using the language of apology.

B. MATERIAL DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBING WHAT HAS BEEN DOING

In asking and describing what you or someone else has been doing that is
started in certain time in the past and is still continued to the present and still
has effect to the present condition you may simply use Present Perfect
Continuous Tense. You may focus on the following patterns:

1. Affirmative Present Perfect Continuous Tense

subject + have/has + been + v + ing (present participle) + adverb

Examples:
a. She has been writing for 2 hours.
b. I have been writing articles on different topics since morning.
c. He has been reading the book for two hours.
d. They have been playing football for an hour.
e. She has been finding the dress since morning.
 f. He has been studying in the library for three hours.
g. We have been shopping at this fair for two hours.
h. We have been watching a movie in this Cineplex for two hours.
i. You have been shopping in that market for three hours.
j. I have been singing different kinds of songs, especially modern.
k. I have been listening to melodious songs for an hour.
l. He has been traveling around the world for a month.
m. They have been playing cricket in that field for five hours.
n. The poet has been writing romantic poems for several hours.
o. The lyricist has been writing realistic songs since the beginning of his career.
p. I have been watching the cricket match for an hour.
q. I have been helping him to do the task for an hour.
r. My mom has been cooking for three hours.
s. I have been watching the concert for an hour.

2. Negative Present Perfect Continuous Tense

subject + have/has + not + been + v + ing (present participle) + adverb

Examples :
a. She has not been writing for 2 hours.
b. I have not been writing articles on different topics since morning.
c. He has not been reading the book for two hours.
d. They have not been playing football for an hour.
e. She has not been finding the dress since morning.
f. He has not been studying in the library for three hours.
g. We have not been shopping at this fair for two hours.
h. We have not been watching a movie in this Cineplex for two hours.
i. You have not been shopping in that market for three hours.
j. I have not been singing different kinds of songs, especially modern.
 k. I have not been listening to melodious songs for an hour.
l. He has not been traveling around the world for a month.
m. They have not been playing cricket in that field for five hours.
n. The poet has not been writing romantic poems for several hours.
o. The lyricist has not been writing realistic songs since the beginning of his
career.
p. I have not been watching the cricket match for an hour.
q. I have not been helping him to do the task for an hour.
r. My mom has not been cooking for three hours.
s. I have not been watching the concert for an hour.

3. Interrogative Present Perfect Continuous Tense

have/has + subject + been + v + ing (present participle) + adverb + ?

Examples :
a. Has she been writing for 2 hours?
b. Have you been writing articles on different topics since morning?
c. Has he been reading the book for two hours?
d. Have they been playing football for an hour?
e. Has she been finding the dress since morning?
f. Has she been studying in the library for three hours?
g. Have we been shopping at this fair for two hours?
h. Have we been watching a movie in this Cineplex for two hours?
i. Have you been shopping in that market for three hours?
j. Have you been singing different kinds of songs, especially modern?
k. Have you been listening to melodious songs for an hour?
l. Has he been traveling around the world for a month?
m. Have they been playing cricket in that field for five hours?
n. Has the poet been writing romantic poems for several hours?
 o. Has the Lyricist been writing realistic songs since the beginning of his career?
p. Have you been watching the cricket match for an hour?
q. Have you been helping him to do the task for an hour?
r. Has my mom been cooking for three hours?
s. Have you been watching the concert for an hour?

You may also use question words to ask what someone has been doing
by applying the following pattern.

QW + have/has + subject + been + v + ing (present participle) + adverb + ?

Examples :
a. How long has she been writing?
b. What have you been writing since morning?
c. How long has he been reading the book?
d. What have they been playing for an hour?
e. What has she been finding since morning?
f. How long has she been studying in the library?
g. Where have we been shopping for two hours?
h. Where have we been watching a movie for two hours?
i. Where have you been shopping for three hours?
j. How long have you been singing different kinds of songs, especially modern?
k. What have you been listening to for an hour?
l. How long has he been traveling around the world?
m. How long have they been playing cricket in that field?
n. What has the poet been writing for several hours?
o. What has the Lyricist been writing since the beginning of his career?
p. How long have you been watching the cricket match?
q. How long have you been helping him to do the task?
r. What has my mom been cooking for three hours?
 s. What have you been watching for an hour?

C. COMPREHENSION TEST

Complete the worksheet of Apologizing conversation

D. REFERENCES

ORELT (Open Resource for English Language Teaching), Module 2 :

Speaking for better Communication. Commonwealth of Learning, Canada,
2012.

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