Page 31 - English Grammar in Use

Unit
Exercises 9

9.1 What have these people been doing or what has been happening?
1 2 3 4
earlier earlier earlier earlier

now now now now

It’s been raining. She They He

9.2 Write a question for each situation.
1 You meet Kate as she is leaving the swimming pool. You say:
Hi, Kate. (you / swim?) Have you been swimming?
2 You have arrived a little late to meet Ben who is waiting for you. You say:
I’m sorry I’m late, Ben. (you / wait / long?)
3 Jane’s little boy comes into the house with a very dirty face and dirty hands. His mother says:
Why are you so dirty? (what / you / do?)
4 You are in a shop and see Anna. You didn’t know she worked there. You say:
Hi, Anna. (how long / you / work / here?)
5 A friend tells you about his job – he sells phones. You say:
You sell phones? (how long / you / do / that?)
9.3 Read the situations and complete the sentences.
1 It’s raining. The rain started two hours ago.
It ’s been raining for two hours.
2 We are waiting for the bus. We started waiting 20 minutes ago.
We for 20 minutes.
3 I’m learning Japanese. I started classes in December.
I since December.
4 Jessica is working in a hotel. She started working there on 18 January.
since 18 January.
5 Our friends always go to Italy for their holidays. The first time was years ago.
for years.

9.4 Put the verb into the present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) or present perfect continuous (have/has
been + -ing).
1 Maria has been learning (Maria / learn) English for two years.
2 Hi, Tom. (I / look) for you. I need to ask you something.
3 Why (you / look) at me like that? Stop it!
4 Rachel is a teacher. (she / teach) for ten years.
5 (I / think) about what you said and I’ve decided to take
your advice.
6 ‘Is Paul on holiday this week?’ ‘No, (he / work).’
7 Sarah is very tired. (she / work) very hard recently.
8 It’s dangerous to use your phone when (you / drive).
9 Laura (travel) in South America for the last three months.

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