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Work with a partner.

Have you ever done DIY?

Reading
Read the conversation and fill in the spaces with words from the box.

Bill:

Wow, Andy! Have you been decorating your house?

Andy:

Well, yeah, actually. I've been painting the 1. all morning.

But how do you know?

Bill:

There's paint in your 2.! But I didn't know that you're into
DIY

Andy:

Well, I like to dabble occasionally. I've done quite a lot recently,

actually. I've wallpapered the kids' rooms, and I'm going to do the
kitchen next.

Bill:

Wow you sound like a professional!

Andy:

You know, it's not that difficult. And it's a lot 3. than paying
someone else.

Bill:

Yeah I guess you're right. By the way, you wouldn't be interested in

doing some DIY next 4., would you?

Language Check #1

Choose From:
cheaper
door
hair
living room

Look at the language table and complete the exercise below.

Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Continuous

I've wallpapered the kids' rooms.

I've been painting the living room.

The action is finished.

The action may not be finished.

Tom has driven 20 miles.

Tom has been driving for an hour.

How long

How much / far etc.

Practice: Fill in the spaces using a verb from the list below in the correct tense. Use some verbs twice.
1) Terry the piano for many years.
2) Alice a report for many hours. She 11 pages so far.
3) Ricky is an actor. He in two Hollywood movies!
4) Jimmy . antique pens for many years. He over 45 in total.
5) Your English is great! How long ..?
6) Sam is a tennis player. He for almost ten years. This year
two tournaments.

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Language Check #2
Some verbs are generally used in the 'simple' form. Fill in the spaces with a verb from the box.
1) James .. his best friend for almost thirty years.

Choose From:
be
know
have
love

2) I .. you since the moment we met!

3) Jeremy .. in hospital for several weeks.
4) Ron .. a car since he was eighteen.

Speaking Practice

Find Someone Who

Name

Follow-up Information

has known his/her best friend for more

than 15 years.
has read more than 10 novels this year.

has been studying English for longer than

you.
has been living in the same house all
his/her life.
has had a haircut in the last two weeks.

has downloaded music this year.

has been playing a musical instrument for

more than 10 years.
has been really busy recently.

has had his/her watch for more than ten

years.
has been using the Internet a lot recently.

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Target Structures:

Present Perfect Simple and Continuous

Vocabulary:

General

Level:

Lower Intermediate

Time:

45 minutes

Preparation:

None

Suggested Teaching Method

This worksheet looks at some of the differences between the Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous.

The opening question introduces the topic. Dont spend too long here. Additional DIY questions can be added at the end of the
lesson, if necessary.
Follow the instructions. Students should first read the conversation, and fill in the blanks with a word from the box. Students
can check their answers in pairs, and practice the conversations together. Encourage the students to look up and make eye
contact with each other when speaking.
Present the target language, and then have students read through the sentence patterns in the table.
Do the first question as an example. Explain that some words can be repeated, and several questions have a choice of
answers.
Students can then work alone, and check in pairs. Finally, go through the answers with the group.

This exercise demonstrates how some verbs are almost always in the 'simple' form. You could compare with the present tense.
We usually say 'I love you' rather than 'I'm loving you'.
Do the first question as an example. Students can then work alone, and check in pairs. Finally, go through the answers with
the group.

Have students read through the statements before beginning. Answer any questions. Demonstrate the activity with a confident
student. In particular, show that whenever a student finds someone for each statement, it's important that he/she asks a
follow-up question, and writes the additional information (in note form) in the table, next to the person's name.
Encourage the students to talk to all their classmates. When the activity draws to a close, elicit some of your students' findings.

Answer Key (Other answers may be possible.)

1) living room
2) hair
3) cheaper
4) door
1) Terry has been learning the piano for many years.
2) Alice has been writing a report for many hours. She's written 11 pages so far.
3) Ricky is an actor. He has starred in two Hollywood movies!
4) Jimmy has been collecting antique pens for many years. He has collected over 45 in total.
5) Your English is great! How long have you been studying?
6) Sam is a tennis player. He's been playing for almost ten years. This year, he's won two tournaments.
1) James has known his best friend for almost thirty years.
2) I have loved you since the moment we met!
3) Jeremy has been in hospital for several weeks.
4) Ron has had a car since he was eighteen.
Updated 4/8/2009

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