What have you been up to ?

[subhajit123]

What does "what have you been up to?" mean? And what are some usual responses?

 

[Lynxear]

It means "What have you been doing recently."

Typical responses could be:

"I have done nothing for a while now. I am taking a break from work."
"I've done nothing special. Life is the same as usual."
"I've started a new and exciting job since we last met."

If a parent says this in an accusing tone, the response by the child might be:

"Nothing!"
"What do you mean? I've done nothing wrong!"

The list of possible responses is endless.

 

[subhajit123]

It means "What have you been doing recently."

Typical responses could be:

"I have done nothing for a while now. I am taking a break from work."
"I've done nothing special. Life is the same as usual."
"I've started a new and exciting job since we last met."

If a parent says this in an accusing tone, the response by the child might be:

"Nothing!"
"What do you mean? I've done nothing wrong!"

The list of possible responses is endless.

Can I reply saying "I've been working on my project". I mean can I use present perfect continuous tense to reply?

 

[GoesStation]

Can I reply saying "I've been working on my project". I mean can I use present perfect continuous tense to reply?

Yes, that's fine. That tense is a natural choice. It would also be natural to say simply "Working on my project."

 

[Lynxear]

Can I reply saying "I've been working on my project". I mean can I use present perfect continuous tense to reply?

Sure that is fine. It just means you started the project in the past and continue this work now.

It also means that you started that project after you last saw this person. Why? It is because if that person knew about that project you would have said:

"I'm still working on my project"

 

[Lynxear]

You are right. I did not think of that. But I still maintain that if "they" knew about "my project" the sentence, "I'm still working on my project", is fine.