This document outlines a lesson plan for teaching the present perfect continuous tense in English. It includes examples, positive and negative sentence structures, uses of contractions, and practice exercises for students. The lesson emphasizes the connection of activities to the present, highlighting when actions have just stopped or are ongoing.

1. VC3.1 - Present perfect continuous
(I have been playing)
Lesson 1/2
I
he/she/it
we/you/they
have been playing
has been playing
have been playing
ESL Lesson Plan

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3. Describe the picture

4. What can you say about Simon?
Simon is
out of
breath…
… he is
perspiring.

5. Look at the example below
Is he running now? No, but he is out of breath.
He has been running.
Has he been running?

6. Look at the example below
Is Sophie painting now? No, but there is paint and a brush.
Sophie has been painting.
Has Sophie been painting?

7. Look at the example below
Is it raining now? No, but the ground is wet.
It has been raining.
Has it been raining?

8. The present perfect continuous
subject have/has been verb -ing
I
you
he
she
it
we
they
have
have
has
has
has
have
have
been
working
reading
painting
watching
tiring
talking
thinking
subject have/has verb -ing
been

9. Now with a contraction
subject contraction been verb -ing
I
you
he
she
it
we
they
‘-ve
‘-ve
‘-s
‘-s
‘-s
‘-ve
‘-ve
been
working
reading
painting
watching
tiring
talking
thinking
subject
contractio
n
verb -ing
been

10. Positive sentences: contractions
He has been running. He’s been running.
without a contraction with a contraction

11. Present perfect continuous
We use the present perfect continuous for
an activity that has just stopped.
The activity has a connection with now.
Simon is exhausted. He has just stopped
running.
Past
Present
Simon has been
running.

12. Present perfect continuous: contractions
We usually use a contraction in
spoken English.
We sometimes use a contraction
in written English.
Spoken: He’s been jogging.
Written: The President has been
travelling around the country.
Spoken: The President’s been
travelling around the country.

13. 1. Why are you so late? I’ve been waiting for you!
2. I’m a little tired. I __________ all afternoon. I have an exam
tomorrow.
3. I don’t think we can go for a walk. It __________ all day and
it’s too wet to go outside.
4. Where have you been? We __________ for you everywhere.
Practice the present perfect continuous
rain study look wait

14. 5. Wow! Marion ____ all morning. Look
at all the fabulous food we have for
lunch.
6. Chris and James are so dirty. They ____
in the mountains for more than a
week.
7. It’s not a good time to talk with Ethan.
Look at his face… he ____.
8. Emma ____ all day. She has just arrived
home now.
Practice the present perfect continuous
work cry camp cook

15. Present perfect continuous
We also use the present perfect
continuous for an action that is
repeated over a period of time.
The action is continuing or it has just
stopped.
It began snowing yesterday. It is
snowing now.
Past Present
It has been snowing for two days.

16. 9. I started teaching a long time ago. I __________ for at least 15
years.
10. Taylor speaks Japanese quite well. She __________ the
language for about 7 years.
11. Heather is still at the pool now! She __________ since two
o’clock this afternoon.
12. Peter and Fiona are at the park. They __________ for at least
90 minutes.
Practice the present perfect continuous
learn teach swim jog

17. 13. That dog! It __________ since early this morning.
14. Ursula says she is always relaxed because she __________ for
many years.
15. Is that our neighbour? She __________ for at least half an
hour. What a voice!
16. Gary wants to finish his book this weekend. He __________
since he finished breakfast yesterday!
Practice the present perfect continuous
do yoga read sing bark

18. Make positive sentences
paint study travel sail
A
D
B
C

19. Negative sentences
subject haven’t / hasn’t been verb -ing
I
you
he
she
it
we
they
haven’t
haven’t
hasn’t
hasn’t
hasn’t
haven’t
haven’t
been
working
reading
painting
watching
tiring
talking
thinking
subject
haven’t
hasn’t
verb -ing
been

20. Negative sentences: contractions
He has not been working. He hasn’t been working.
Without a contraction With a contraction

21. 17. John hasn’t been watching TV since he decided to get fit. Now
he goes running in the evening.
18. Tyler and Alexis had a fight three weeks ago and they
__________ to each other since that time.
19. David is staying at home again today. He __________ well for
almost a week.
20. I can’t believe that you __________ to university classes.
There are exams next week!
Practice the present perfect continuous
feel watch speak go

22. 21. I don’t know why… but I __________ well recently. I think that
I am stressed.
22. Look at my plants. I water them but they __________ recently.
They are the same size they were last year.
23. We __________ our milk and bread from that grocer for two
months. The prices are too high.
24. The radio? No, Jill __________ to it for a long time. She
prefers the TV these days.
Practice the present perfect continuous
listen buy grow sleep

23. Make negative sentences
sleep work talk exercise
C
B
D
A

24. Present perfect continuous questions
have/has subject been verb –ing?
have
have
has
has
has
have
have
I
you
he
she
it
we
they
been
sleeping?
reading?
working?
screaming?
snowing?
fighting?
behaving?
have/has subject verb –ing?
been

25. 25. Have you been wearing my raincoat? It’s all wet.
26. _______ they ________ a lot this year? They look so tanned.
27. William! _______ you _______ chocolate? It’s all over your
mouth!
28. There is black ink all over your hands. _______ you _______
with that old pen again?
Practice the present perfect continuous
travel write wear eat

26. 29. There’s no gas left. _______ Daniel _______ the car again? He
never goes to the gas station.
30. What do you mean, ‘You have no money’? _______ you
_______ again and spent it all?
31. You look anxious! _______ you _______ a lot of coffee?
32. I need to charge my tablet but I only did it yesterday. _______
you _______ it?
Practice the present perfect continuous
drink shop use drive

27. Make present perfect continuous questions
rain smoke iron clean
D
C
B
A