I’ve Done It / I’ve Been Doing It
I can report both the progress and the completed results of a task.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Your situation
At a community workshop, Ana asks for a progress report. Ben has repaired two chairs, but six still need work. He has been repairing furniture all morning. His hands are dusty and the room is untidy. Ana needs to know both what is ready and what has occupied his time.
Read the situation transcript
At a community workshop, Ana asks for a progress report. Ben has repaired two chairs, but six still need work. He has been repairing furniture all morning. His hands are dusty and the room is untidy. Ana needs to know both what is ready and what has occupied his time.
Can Ana put all eight chairs out for visitors now?
Compare your idea
No. Only two are reported as repaired; the activity statement does not establish that all eight are ready.
How it works
A useful progress report separates output from activity: I’ve repaired two chairs tells us what is ready; I’ve been repairing furniture explains how the time was spent.
Add a remaining-task sentence when completion matters. Neither a long duration nor visible effort proves that a whole job is finished. State verbs still normally take simple forms: I’ve owned these tools for years.
Completed output: have/has + participle. Recent or continuing activity: have/has been + -ing.
Notice this
I’ve repaired two chairs.
Two chairs are ready.
Compare this
I’ve been repairing furniture all morning.
The focus is the activity over time.
Hear the examples
I’ve repaired two chairs.
Two chairs are ready.
I’ve been repairing furniture all morning.
The focus is the activity over time.
We haven’t finished the whole job yet.
This makes the remaining work explicit.
I’ve owned these tools for years.
A continuing state takes the simple perfect.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: I’ve been finishing all eight chairs, so all eight are definitely ready.
Say: I’ve finished all eight chairs, so they’re ready.
Use a completed-result statement when you need to establish that the whole job is done.
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
Report a completed result in a workshop or another task.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I’ve repaired two chairs.
Check yourself: Give a definite output.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Explain the activity behind a visible sign of effort.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I’ve been sanding wood, so my hands are dusty.
Check yourself: Connect an activity with present evidence.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Give a balanced progress report with work remaining.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I’ve repaired two chairs. I’ve been working all morning, but six still need repairs.
Check yourself: Do not confuse effort with 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
A colleague asks “How many are ready?” Answer using repair and two chairs.
Compare a model and explanation
I’ve repaired two chairs.
Answer the output question, not just the duration question.
Self-check 2
Answer “Why are your hands dusty?” using sand wood.
Compare a model and explanation
I’ve been sanding wood.
The continuous foregrounds the recent activity.
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 ___ two chairs; those two are ready.
has repaired: Has repaired clearly establishes the completed output.
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Ben ___ furniture all morning. Use the continuous form.
has been repairing: The continuous perfect uses has been plus repairing.
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How many chairs are explicitly ready in the opening?
Two: The text states that two are repaired and six still need work.
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Which answer best addresses “How many have you finished?”
I’ve finished two.: A completed count directly answers the question.
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Which sentence explains dusty hands through recent activity?
I’ve been sanding wood.: The recent activity provides a cause for the visible result.
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Correct “I’ve been owning these tools for years.”
I’ve owned these tools for years.: Own normally describes a state here and takes the simple perfect.
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Does an all-morning activity establish that every item is finished?
No: Duration and completion are different pieces of information.
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How many chairs still need work?
Six: The speaker explicitly says six still need repairs.
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Choose the clearest progress report.
I’ve repaired two, and six still need work.: The correct report separates completed output from remaining work.
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What makes a progress report useful?
Distinguishing activity, completed output and remaining work: The three pieces answer different practical questions.
Take it with you
I can report both the progress and the completed results of a task.