Olga: Rose! What are you doing here? I have been waiting for you for hours!
Rose: I’m sorry, Olga. I have been trying on these clothes for two hours. And I haven’t decided yet.
Greg: Molly! Call our waiter again!
Molly: I have been trying to call him.
Greg: Molly! We have been sitting here for twenty-five minutes, and I’m not going to wait any more!
Molly: I’m sorry, dear, but he’s again talking to that nice girl.
Greg: Yes, he has been talking to her since we came in.
Molly: Waiter!
Waiter: Yes, ma’am. Do you want the bill?
Molly: The bill! We haven’t even got the menu yet!
In this dialogue, each present perfect continuous form is used to emphasize the ongoing nature of the actions that started in the past and are still happening or have just recently stopped. This tense is particularly useful for showing the duration of an activity up to the present moment. Here’s a breakdown of each verb form:
- have been waiting: Olga is expressing that she started waiting at some point in the past and continues to wait up to the present moment.
- have been trying on: Rose indicates that she began trying on clothes two hours ago and is still engaged in this activity.
- have been trying: Molly has been attempting to get the waiter’s attention over a period of time.
- have been sitting: Greg emphasizes that they have been seated and waiting for twenty-five minutes, highlighting the long duration.
- has been talking: Greg points out that the waiter started talking to the girl when they came in and continues to do so.
By using the present perfect continuous tense, the speakers convey a sense of frustration and impatience resulting from the prolonged and ongoing nature of these activities.
