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You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. What have you been up to ?

• Thread starter subhajit123
• Start date Aug 1, 2017
• Views : 50,045

Status Not open for further replies. S

subhajit123

Banned

Joined May 27, 2017 Member Type Student or Learner Native Language Hindi Home Country India Current Location India What does "what have you been up to?" mean? And what are some usual responses?

Lynxear

Member

Joined Dec 20, 2007 Member Type Retired English Teacher Native Language English Home Country Canada Current Location Canada It means "What have you been doing recently." Typical responses could be: "I have done nothing for a while now. I am taking a break from work." "I've done nothing special. Life is the same as usual." "I've started a new and exciting job since we last met." If a parent says this in an accusing tone, the response by the child might be: "Nothing!" "What do you mean? I've done nothing wrong!" The list of possible responses is endless. S

subhajit123

Banned

Thread starter Joined May 27, 2017 Member Type Student or Learner Native Language Hindi Home Country India Current Location India

Lynxear said: It means "What have you been doing recently." Typical responses could be: "I have done nothing for a while now. I am taking a break from work." "I've done nothing special. Life is the same as usual." "I've started a new and exciting job since we last met." If a parent says this in an accusing tone, the response by the child might be: "Nothing!" "What do you mean? I've done nothing wrong!" The list of possible responses is endless. Click to expand...

Can I reply saying "I've been working on my project". I mean can I use present perfect continuous tense to reply? G

GoesStation

No Longer With Us (RIP)

Joined Dec 22, 2015 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language American English Home Country United States Current Location United States

subhajit123 said: Can I reply saying "I've been working on my project". I mean can I use present perfect continuous tense to reply? Click to expand...

Yes, that's fine. That tense is a natural choice. It would also be natural to say simply "Working on my project."

Lynxear

Member

Joined Dec 20, 2007 Member Type Retired English Teacher Native Language English Home Country Canada Current Location Canada

subhajit123 said: Can I reply saying "I've been working on my project". I mean can I use present perfect continuous tense to reply? Click to expand...

Sure that is fine. It just means you started the project in the past and continue this work now. It also means that you started that project after you last saw this person. Why? It is because if that person knew about that project you would have said: "I'm still working on my project"

Lynxear

Member

Joined Dec 20, 2007 Member Type Retired English Teacher Native Language English Home Country Canada Current Location Canada You are right. I did not think of that. But I still maintain that if "they" knew about "my project" the sentence, "I'm still working on my project", is fine. Status Not open for further replies.

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