Unfinished States
Fill in:
"They _____ (be) friends for years."
have been
“I have saw that movie already.”
I have seen that movie already.
The past participle of 'see' is 'seen', not saw. Present perfect requires have + past participle.
Fill in:
“I ______ (study) all morning.”
have been studying
Emphasizes duration up to now
Which focuses on a completed result?
A) I’ve cleaned the room.
B) I’ve been cleaning the room.
A) I’ve cleaned the room.
Present perfect simple = completed result.
Fill in:
“By tomorrow, I ______ (finish) the project.”
will have finished
Completion before a future time.
Choose the correct sentence:
A) I've been knowing her since 2010.
B) I've known her since 2010.
B) I've known her since 2010.
“She has been work here for three years.”
She has been working here for three years.
Present perfect continuous requires:
have/has + been + verb (-ing) → been working
Choose the best option:
“She has worked / has been working all day (and she’s still working).”
has been working
continuous = activity is still in progress.
Which suggests the activity is still happening?
A) She has read the book.
B) She has been reading the book.
B) She has been reading the book.
Continuous = ongoing activity.
Choose the correct sentence:
A) I will finish the report by 5pm.
B) I will have finished the report by 5pm.
B) I will have finished the report by 5pm.
Future perfect emphasizes completion BEFORE that time.
Why is this incorrect?
I've been believing him for years.
Incorrect because "believe" is a state verb.
State verbs (believe, know, love, etc.) don't usually use continuous forms --> I've "believed"
Fix the error:
“By tomorrow, I finish the report.”
By tomorrow, I will have finished the report.
Use future perfect for completion before a future time
What does this sentence suggest?
“He’s been running.”
He recently finished → visible result (e.g., sweating)
Present perfect continuous often shows evidence now.
Explain the difference:
“I’ve fixed the car.”
“I’ve been fixing the car.”
fixed → completed
been fixing → process (maybe not finished)
result vs. effort (continuous work)
Make a prediction using future perfect
Example: By next year, I will have graduated.
Must show completed action in future.
Rewrite using the correct tense:
“I am knowing him for a long time.”
I have known him for a long time.
Present perfect is needed for duration + state verb.
“They had been finish the work before I arrived.”
They had finished the work before I arrived.
Should be past perfect simple, not continuous form.
Create a sentence showing a visible result
Example: She’s been crying—her eyes are red.
Must connect activity --> visible present result.
Use “had hoped” to show disappointment
Example: We had hoped she would arrive on time, but she didn’t.
Shows expectation that was not met.
Create a sentence using future perfect continuous
Example: By next month, I will have been working here for 2 years.
Emphasizes duration up to a future point.
Explain the difference:
“I’ve lived here for 5 years.”
“I’ve been living here for 5 years.”
"I've lived" --> neutral, fact/state
"I've been living" --> emphasizes duration/activity
Correct ALL errors:
“I have been finish my homework and I have went to bed before my parents had arrived.”
I have finished my homework, and I went to bed before my parents arrived.
have been finished --> have finished
have went --> have gone OR went (past simple/for sequence)
"had arrived" is unnecessary --> use past simple for clarity
Explain the difference:
“I’ve written three emails.”
“I’ve been writing emails.”
I’ve written three emails → completed (result + number)
I’ve been writing emails → activity, no focus on completion
Simple = result; Continuous = process.
Explain the nuance (subtle difference):
“I had called him five times, but he didn’t answer.”
“I had been calling him all morning, but he didn’t answer.”
had called → focus on number (completed actions)
had been calling → focus on duration/effort
Explain the difference:
“By June, I will have lived here for 5 years.”
“By June, I will have been living here for 5 years.”
will have lived → neutral fact (simple)
will have been living → emphasizes duration/activity
Same meaning, but continuous adds emphasis on the ongoing time.