A Very Long Day
I can explain a present condition by describing recent sustained activity.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Your situation
“You look tired,” says Jo. “I’ve been moving boxes all morning,” replies Ben. “Are you finished?” “Not yet. I’ve been sorting books too.” Later, his hands are dusty even after he stops. The recent activity still explains the present result.
Read the situation transcript
“You look tired,” says Jo. “I’ve been moving boxes all morning,” replies Ben. “Are you finished?” “Not yet. I’ve been sorting books too.” Later, his hands are dusty even after he stops. The recent activity still explains the present result.
Does the dusty result tell us that Ben must still be moving boxes?
Compare your idea
No. A present result can remain after the activity stops.
How it works
Use have been doing to explain recent effort or sustained activity. In this conversation, the activity answers the question Why do you look tired?
A duration can make the effort clearer: for three hours, all morning. To ask about the activity, use What have you been doing? Do not infer an exact completed total from the continuous form.
Have/has been + verb-ing; recent activity → present result.
Notice this
I’ve been moving boxes all morning.
This explains sustained effort.
Compare this
I’ve been sorting books too.
This adds another recent activity.
Hear the examples
I’ve been moving boxes all morning.
This explains sustained effort.
I’ve been sorting books too.
This adds another recent activity.
What have you been doing?
This asks for the activity.
She’s been running; she’s out of breath.
The activity explains a present result.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: She has working all morning.
Say: She has been working all morning.
The present perfect continuous needs has been plus -ing.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Explain an invented tired or messy appearance.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I’ve been cleaning the garage.
Check yourself: Connect the result to recent activity.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Ask someone about their recent activity.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
What have you been doing this morning?
Check yourself: Use have before the subject.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Add a duration without claiming a finished total.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I’ve been sorting books for two hours.
Check yourself: The duration describes effort, not necessarily completion.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Complete: We ___ been carrying boxes. Use have.
Compare a model and explanation
We have been carrying boxes.
We takes have.
Self-check 2
Explain muddy shoes using walk.
Compare a model and explanation
I’ve been walking in the garden.
Use recent activity as the explanation.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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Ben has been ___ boxes all morning.
moving: Use an -ing form after has been.
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What ___ you been doing?
have: Have begins the perfect-continuous question.
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She ___ been sorting books for hours.
has: She takes has.
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Why is the continuous useful in “I’ve been carrying boxes”?
It emphasises recent sustained activity.: The focus is the activity and effort, not a counted total.
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Choose a correct explanation of a present result.
My hands are dirty because I’ve been gardening.: Have been gardening names the recent activity.
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Correct “They have been worked all day.”
They have been working all day.: Use have been plus working.
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Does a present result prove the activity is still continuing?
No: The result can remain after the activity stops.
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Why are the speaker’s shoes muddy?
The speaker has been walking in the garden.: The audio directly links muddy shoes with garden walking.
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Choose the correct duration phrase.
I’ve been packing for three hours.: For introduces a duration.
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Which follow-up checks completion rather than assuming it?
Have you finished?: The activity form alone does not settle whether the job is complete.
Take it with you
I can explain a present condition by describing recent sustained activity.