Use recently, lately, duration, ongoing accurately in context
Read and discuss a topic-specific article at A2 level
Practise speaking fluently on actions in progress until now
Complete written exercises with vocabulary in context
Teaching Notes
Warm-up: allow 8-10 min, let personal answers develop
Article: read together or have students read silently first
Vocabulary match: good for pair work
Speaking: encourage full sentences, not one-word answers
Exit questions: 5-min closer, no prep needed
Timing Guide
Warm-up: 8 min
Article + comprehension: 12 min
Vocabulary + match: 10 min
Exercises: 10 min
Speaking + discussion: 15 min
Exit + recap: 5 min
Teacher Question Bank
Click Next Question to begin
A2 · Lesson 31 · Actions in Progress Until Now
Present Perfect Continuous
Actions in Progress Until Nowrecentlylatelyduration
Getting started
Warm-Up Questions
Click the button to get your first question
Read & Understand
Article
Present Perfect Continuous
The present perfect continuous connects the past to the present. We use it when an action started in the past and is still happening now, or has just stopped. 'I have been working on this project since Monday' — it started Monday and is still in progress. 'You look exhausted — have you been sleeping badly?' — we can see the evidence now. With 'for' and 'since': 'She has been studying for three hours' / 'He has been working here since 2020'. Compare with the present perfect simple: 'I have written ten emails today' — completed. 'I have been writing emails all morning' — ongoing, with emphasis on the activity itself.
💡 Did you know? English is one of very few languages with a present perfect continuous tense. Most European languages use simpler tenses to express the same ideas — which is why this tense is particularly hard to master for many learners.
Topic: Actions in Progress Until Now
Key words
Vocabulary
01
recently
not long ago, in the near past
02
lately
in the recent past, recently
03
duration
the length of time something lasts
04
ongoing
still happening or continuing
05
exhausted
extremely tired
06
since
from a specific point in time until now
07
for
during a period of time
08
evidence
facts or signs that show something is true
09
temporary
lasting for only a limited time
010
progress
forward movement towards a goal
Match the Words
Click a word on the left, then click its definition on the right.
recently
lately
duration
ongoing
exhausted
since
for
evidence
temporary
progress
facts or signs that show something is true
still happening or continuing
the length of time something lasts
lasting for only a limited time
from a specific point in time until now
during a period of time
forward movement towards a goal
extremely tired
not long ago, in the near past
in the recent past, recently
Say it right
Pronunciation
recently
RE-ce-ntly
lately
LAT-ely
duration
DU-ra-tion
ongoing
ONG-oing
exhausted
EXH-aus-ted
since
SI-nce
Read & Discuss
Short Dialogue
A:
Hi! Can I ask you about recently?
B:
Of course! I think recently is very important.
A:
What about lately? Do you use it often?
B:
Yes, I do. Lately helps me a lot at work.
A:
And duration? Is that difficult for you?
B:
Sometimes. But I practise every day.
A:
That is great. What is your advice?
B:
Just be consistent. Small steps every day!
Comprehension
What does person A ask about first?
How does person B feel about lately?
What is person B's advice?
Practice
Exercises
Gap Fill
Complete each sentence using vocabulary from today's lesson.
1. I have been working on a new project.
2. , I have been feeling very tired.
3. The of the project is six months.
4. We have an discussion about the budget.
5. I have been working so hard that I am .
Error Correction
Find and correct the mistake in each sentence.
She is know a lot about recently.
We was discussing lately yesterday.
He don't have enough duration.
They have spoke about ongoing before.
Speaking practice
Speaking Prompts
Discuss with your partner
Tell your partner what you have been doing lately at work or at home.
How long have you been studying English? What have you been finding most useful?
Look at your partner — what have they been doing today? Make guesses using: You look... Have you been...?
Summarise today's topic in 3 sentences using vocabulary from this lesson.
Grammar focus: Present perfect continuous: have/has + been + verb-ing. Use for: actions that st... — can you give an example?
Open discussion
Discussion Generator
More Questions
Use with pairs or whole class · Encourage full answers
Click Next Question to start
End of lesson
Exit Questions
Discuss in pairs — 5 minutes
Recap
Vocabulary
recently, lately, duration, ongoing, exhausted, since, for, evidence, temporary, progress
