Сравните глагольные формы Present Perfect и Present Perfect Continuous.

Present Perfect:Why have you come so late?

Почему вы пришли так поздно?

Present Perfect Continuous: I have been waiting for you for two hours.

Я уже жду вас два часа.

Сравните глагольные формы Present Continuous и Present Perfect Continuous.

Present Continuous: Where is John?

He is working in the laboratory.

Где Джон?

Он работает в лаборатории.

Present Perfect Continuous: He has been working there for many hours.

Он уже работает там в течение нескольких

часов.

The Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

Chemists had been studying the atmosphere for about two thousand years before its composition was discovered.

Химики изучали атмосферу около двух тысяч лет, прежде чем был открыт ее состав.

Глагольная форма had been studying (Past Perfect Continuous) выражает длительное действие, протекавшее до указанного момента (before its composition was discovered) и, возможно, продолжавшееся и после этого момента.

Past Perfect Continuous переводится глаголом несовершенного вида в прошедшем времени, чаще всего с наречием уже.

Past Perfect: She had written the article by 10 o’clock yesterday.

Она написаластатью вчера к 10 часам.

Past Perfect Continuous:Shehad been writingit for two hours when you came.

Она уже писала ее в течение двух часов, когда вы пришли.

Past Continuous: When the mother came home her children were

Sleeping;

Past Perfect Continuous: they had been sleeping for two hours

Когда мать вернулась домой, дети спали; они

спали уже два часа.

Future Perfect Continuous

Shewill have been writingher article for two hours by 10 o’clock tomorrow.

Завтра к десяти часам она уже будет писать свою статью в течение двух часов.

Exercises:

I. Read the situations and complete the sentences.

1. The rain started two hours ago. It’s still raining now. It _____ for two hours.

2. We started waiting for the bus 20 minutes ago. We’re still waiting now. We _____ for 20 minutes.

3. I started Spanish classes in December. I’m still learning Spanish now. I _____ since December.

4. Ann began looking for a job six months ago. She is still looking for it now. Ann _____ for six months.

5. Mary started working in London on 18 January. She’s still working there now. Mary _____ since 18 January.

II. Put the verb into the Present Continuous or Present Perfect Continuous.

1. Maria _____ (learn) English for two years.

2. Why _____ (you/look) at me like that?

3. We always go to Ireland for our holidays. We _____ (go) there for years.

4. I _____ (think) about what you said and I’ve decided to take your advice.

5. Sarah is very tired. She _____ (work) very hard recently.