Grammar: The Present Perfect- Continuous Tense

 

I/you/we/they/ HAVE BEEN + Ving

He/she/ it HAS BEEN + Ving

We use the Present Perfect Continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or repeated over a period of time.

 

Paul is very tired. He has been working very hard.

Every time they meet in the same café. They have been going there for years.

Write a question for each situation.

1 John looks sun burnt. You ask: (you / sit in the sun?)... Have you been sitting in the sun?..

2 You have just arrived to meet a friend who is waiting for you. You ask: (you / wait / long?)

3 You meet a friend in the street. His face and hands are very dirty. You ask: (what / you /do?)

4 A friend of yours is now living in Baker Street. You want to know 'How long...?' You ask: (how long / you / live / in Baker Street?)...........................................................................................

5 A friend tells you about his job - he sells computers. You want to know 'How long...?' You ask: (how long / you / sell / computers?).......................................................................................

 

Read the situations and complete the sentences.

1 The rain started two hours ago. It's still raining now. It... has been raining... for two hours.

2 We started waiting for the bus 20 minutes ago. We're still waiting now.

We.............................................................................................. for 20 minutes.

3 I started Spanish classes in December. I'm still learning Spanish now.

I............................................ since December.

4 Ann began looking for a job six months ago. She's still looking now. for six months.

5 Mary started working in London on 18 January. She's still working there now. since 18 January.

6 Years ago you started writing to a penfriend. You still write to each other regularly now. We for years.

 

Put the verb into the present continuous (I am -ing etc.) or present perfect continuous (I have been -ing etc.).

1 Maria... has been learning... (learn) English for two years.

2 Hello, Tom. I............................................. (look) for you all morning. Where have you been?

3 Why.............................................................. (you/look) at me like that? Stop it!

4 We always go to Ireland for our holidays. We................................................. (go)

there for years.

5 I…………..(think) about what you said and I've decided to take

your advice.

6 'Is Ann on holiday this week?' 'No, she.................................................. (work).'

7 Sarah is very tired. She...................................................... (work) very hard recently.

 

 

Unit 8

Before you read

Discuss the following with your partner.

-Can you actually think of any examples of countries with a completely free market or a totally controlled one?

-Give any examples you can think of or say why you can't come up with any true examples.

 

A Vocabulary

Complete each sentence with a word or phrase from the box.

 

Agriculture ban free enterprise

Manufacturers monopoly private sector

Profit motivation public transport state sector

Telecommunications efficiently trade

 

1. …… is when businesses are able to trade without control from the government.

2. ………………. industries belong to and are run by the government.

3. ………………. industries belong to and are run by independent businesses.

4. Buses, trains and planes are example of ……………..

5. …………. is another word for farming.

6. ……………. produce new goods from raw materials.

7. When a business works ………, it runs successfully without wasting resources.

8. Telephone and internet systems are part of the ………. industry.

9. ………… is what drives businesses in the market economy.

10. When the governments puts a …………. on a commodity, people are not allowed to buy or own it.

11. If only one company controls part of the economy, they have a ………...

12. When companies …………….., they do business with each other.

 

 

Reading

The mixed economy

Most economists would say that there are no examples in the world today of a completely free market or a completely controlled economy. Instead, every country operates a mixture of the two systems. Even in the freest economies, like the USA, there is some government control. Even in the strictest planned economy there is some free enterprise.

Economics mix government control and free market values in different ways. One way is to let privately owned businesses exist alongside state run industries. The economy becomes divided between the state sector and the private sector. The state sector often includes industries that the government thinks are important and need protection from the risks of the free market. These could include public transport, hospitals, schools and the postal service. The state sector can also include large industries that are important for a country's economic health, such as oil, steel or agriculture. These are sometimes called primary industries because they provide basic materials to manufacturers.

These state sector industries use money that the government collects in taxes. Often, they do not need to compete with other companies because no other company is allowed to provide the same product or service. However, many countries have recently started a process called deregulation.

Deregulation means freeing up the economy to allow private businesses to compete with state-run industries. The state sector should then run more efficiently on order to compete in the free market and because it now has less government protection.

Deregulation of services like telecommunications, transport and banking has happened in many countries in recent years. People have generally accepted these changes. However, generally the public is less happy when governments start talking about deregulation in education and health services. Many people feel that profit motivation will harm these services rather than improve them.

Another in which economies today are mixed is that governments put limits on free enterprise. For example, governments may decide to ban trade in certain goods if they are dangerous. They may also create laws to make sure companies trade honestly or to prevent monopolies. If a company has a monopoly, normal market forces do not affect it. This is bad for consumers and the economy in general. Governments may also regulate methods of production. They do this to guarantee that products are safe for consumers and to protect the environment.

Many economists would argue that the mixed economy is the best system for consumers. This is because consumers have two ways to control the economy: by choosing to buy a company's goods or services and by choosing to give political parties their votes.

B Comprehension

Now read the text again and answer the questions:

1. What do most economists believe about economies in the world today?

A. There are a number of free markets.

B. Some countries have a completely planned economy.

C. A mixed economy exists in some way in all countries.

2. Why do governments choose to run some industries?

A. So they can collect taxes.

B. Because they need to be protected from the risks of the free market.

C. To encourage a divided economy.

3. Why do governments deregulate some industries?

A. To make the industries more efficient.

B. To protect them.

C. Because there is too much competition.

4. According to the text, what is not very popular with the public?

A. Deregulation of public transport.

B. Deregulation of hospitals and schools.

C. Deregulation of telecommunications and banking.

5. What type of state control is not mentioned in paragraph 5?

A. Controlling the way companies do business.

B. Controlling what companies sell.

C. Controlling the prices companies set.

 

Discuss the following with your partner.

-Here is a list of arguments against state-run hospitals and arguments against private hospitals.

-Read the list and decide under which heading you think each one should go.

 

C Listening

Now listen and check your answers.

1. badly organised

2. creates a class of poor, unhealthy people

3. hospitals in bad condition

4. hospitals will reduce costs to make money

5. is bad for society in general

6. long waiting lists for patients

7. only the rich can afford health care

8. staff are poorly paid

9. taxpayers support everyone

 

Against state-run hospitals: Against private hospitals: