Advice on Present Perfect Simple and Continuous problems

Advice on Present Perfect Simple and Continuous problems

Read out a problem from below, ask for advice, then respond to what they say.

Useful language for asking for, giving and responding to advice
“What should I do?” “Do you have any advice?”	“I think you should…” “If I were you, I’d…” “You could try…”	“That’s a good idea. I’ll try that.” “That might be a good idea. I’ll think about it.” “Are you sure that’s a good idea? I think…”

 

• I put on lots of weight over New Year, and I haven’t lost any since then.
• I’ve already spent this month’s pay.
• I’ve already worked 70 hours this week.
• I’ve been catching a lot of colds this year.
• I’ve been feeling hungover all day.
• I’ve been living in the same house for 30 years. I’m bored but can’t afford to move.
• I’ve been working 80-hour weeks since January.
• I’ve been writing my thesis for two years and I haven’t finished yet.
• I’ve just had a big argument with my wife/ husband/ partner.
• I’ve lost my keys three times this year.
• I’ve never had a successful date./ I’ve had no successful dates.
• My hay fever has been getting worse each year since I moved to this town.

When your teacher stops you, share one piece of advice you agreed on and see if the class agrees, Then ask about problems above you don’t understand or can’t think of advice for, discussing possible advice as a class each time.

What are the differences between the sentences above with -ing (Present Perfect Continuous) and the ones without -ing (Present Perfect Simple)?

Which tense focuses on the result (e.g. having a broken leg now) and which tense focuses on the action (e.g. working hard or for a long time)?

Which tense is often used to talk about how long and which tense is often used to talk about how many/ how much (e.g. that there is none now)?

First of all with no help, write different words in the two columns below such as times.

Key words with Present Perfect Simple	Key words with Present Perfect Cont.

 

--------------------------fold, cover or cut-----------------------------

 

Put these key words below into the table above, then check with the example sentences:

… times                                              already                        for                              just

never/ not… ever/ …ever…?    since                                       this year                       yet