1. The Present Perfect Continuous
vs.
The Present Perfect

2. Form and Uses Present Perfect Continuous Present Perfect
Use the present perfect continuous with action verbs.
Positive have/has been V+ing
Negative haven’t/hasn’t been V+ing
Questions Have/Has X been V+ing….?
Present Perfect
Use the present perfect simple with non-action verbs
Positive have/has+ past participle of main verb
Negative haven’t/hasn’t+ past participle of main verb
Questions Have/has + past participle of main verb

3. How long .....?
FOR
NOW
SINCE
How long have you had a dog? Since I got her from my father. For three years.
How long has he been a manager? Since he graduated from university. For ten years.
How long have you been training her? Since she was six months old. For two and a half years.
How long has he been working for ABC Ltd? Since For three years.

4. Practice How long / you / know your boyfriend? Last June.
How long have you known your boyfriend? Since last June.
How long/ you / go out with him? 99 days.
How long have you been going out with him? For 99 days.

5. How long / he / have glasses. Twenty years
How long / he / have glasses? Twenty years. How long / he / wear these ones? He broke the old ones.
How long has he had glasses? For twenty years. How long has he been wearing these ones? Since he broke the old ones.

6. How long / you / work as a teacher. Five years
How long / you / work as a teacher? Five years. How long / you / work at this school? September.
How long have you worked as a teacher? For five years. How long have you been working at this school? Since September.

7. How long? vs. How much/many?
duration
quantity
How long have you been taking photos? (I’ve been taking photos) since I was ten.
How long has she been drinking? (He’s been drinking) since 2 p.m.
How many photos have you taken? (I’ve taken) about
How much beer has she drunk? (She’s drunk) six bottles of beer.

8. Practice How long / she / learn English? Eight years.
How long has she been learning English? (She’s been learning English) for eight years.
How many words / she / learn? About 2000.
How many words has she learnt? (She’s learnt) about 2000.

9. How long / he / write poems. He met his girlfriend
How long / he / write poems? He met his girlfriend. How many poems / he / write? 23.
How long has he been writing poems? (He’s been writing poems) since he met his girlfriend. How many poems has he written? (He’s written) 23 poems.

10. How long / she / play in films. Two years How many roles / she play
How long / she / play in films? Two years How many roles / she play? Six How many prizes / she win? Nine How much money / she make? $ 20,000
How long has she been playing in films? (She’s been playing in films) for two years. How many roles has she played? (She’s played) six roles. How many prizes has she won? (She’s won) nine prizes. How much money has she made? $20,000.

11. Your Turn
Make up similar mini dialogues using how long? and how many /much?. Use some of the given vocabulary:
eat hamburgers build houses collect coins drive mend cars clean windows make cakes give presentations read this book sing in a band chat on the Net prepare tests draw flowers take exams
Good work!