Step 61: Health and Habits
Lifestyle — Present perfect continuous; habit language
📖 Read — Lisa's Healthy Year
Lisa feels different this year. “I have been running every morning since January,” she tells Emma. “At first, it was hard. But I kept going, and now I have more energy all day. I've also been eating more fresh food, and I've been drinking water instead of soda.”
Her brother is on a different path. “He has been trying to cut down on sugar since March,” Lisa laughs. “And guess what? It works!” Emma nods. “You two are in good shape. I have been sitting at my desk for too many hours — starting tomorrow, I'll join your morning run!”
🧩 Grammar — Present Perfect Continuous for Habits + Habit Verbs
For habits and lifestyle changes that started in the past and continue now, use the present perfect continuous (Step 42): have/has been + -ing + for/since — She has been running since January. Habit language rides along: keep + -ing (don't stop), cut down on (do less of), give up (stop completely, from Step 49), get into (start liking a new activity).
- I've been exercising since March.
- He has been trying to cut down on coffee.
- She kept practicing until she won.
- They've been eating better for months.
🏗️ Key structures
- I've been ___-ing since / for ___ — I've been running since January.
- She's trying to cut down on ___ — She's trying to cut down on sugar.
- He keeps ___-ing — He keeps improving every week.
⭐ Idiom & natural phrases
After a year of running, she's in good shape.
🔤 New words
physical activity that keeps your body strong
Running is great exercise.
the food you usually eat; also a plan to eat less or better
A healthy diet has lots of vegetables.
the feeling of pressure and worry from work or life
Too much stress is bad for your sleep.
the power your body and mind have to do things
Breakfast gives me energy.
a place with machines and weights for exercise
He goes to the gym three times a week.
new and natural; not old or from a can (fresh food, fresh air)
We eat fresh fruit every day.
make your body long and loose before or after exercise
Always stretch before you run.
take air in and out through your nose and mouth
Breathe deeply and relax.
🎧 Say it with me
I’ve been running since January, and I’ve been eating more fresh food. I kept going, and now I’m in good shape!
🎤 Your turn to speak
Talk about your health habits: two things you've been doing (with for/since), one thing you're cutting down on, and one thing you keep doing.
Say it out loud three times. Even better: record it on your phone and listen — your ear is your best teacher.
✍️ Your turn to write
Write 5 sentences about your healthy (or unhealthy!) habits. Use has/have been -ing twice, for/since, and cut down on or keep.
See a model answer
I have been walking to school since September. It gives me energy for the day. My father has been trying to cut down on coffee for months — he drinks two cups now, not five! I keep a bottle of water on my desk, and I've been sleeping better lately, too.
Self-check: capital letters? Full stops? Did you use the grammar of this step?
📝 Quick check
Go deeper
This step is a doorway — the full lesson goes much further:
Present Perfect Continuous: How Long… — full lesson + 50-question quiz
🎉 Saved in your progress!