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10 Revie Review

Unit 10 Review

Unit 10

  • I CAN review the present perfect continuous, used to / would, and repair language
Unit 10 Review
Lesson Review

Lesson Review

16 cards

Welcome to the Unit 10 Review of Horizons B2. In this final block you will revisit the three big areas of the unit: the present perfect continuous, the past-habit forms used to and would, and the small toolkit of phrases that speakers use to repair communication when something goes wrong. The aim is not to learn new material but to bring the language together so that it feels automatic in real conversation and in writing.

The present perfect continuous

The present perfect continuous describes an action that started in the past and is still going on, or has only just stopped with visible results. The form is have/has + been + verb-ing, and we use it to emphasise the duration or continuity of an activity rather than the moment it is finished.

Affirmative Negative Question
I have been working all day. I haven't been sleeping well. Have you been waiting long?
She has been studying since 5 a.m. He hasn't been feeling well. How long have you been learning English?

Common time expressions are for, since, all morning, all day, recently, lately. Be careful with stative verbs such as know, believe, want, like, own: we keep the simple present perfect for these, not the continuous. Compare I have known him for years (a state) with I have been working with him for years (an activity that continues). Forgetting this contrast is one of the most common B2 mistakes, so the review exercises below give you a chance to check it.

used to and would

Both used to and would describe past habits and routines that are no longer true. They are essential for storytelling and for talking about how your life has changed.

  • used to + infinitive covers past habits and past states: I used to live in Cairo. I used to be very shy.
  • would + bare infinitive covers only repeated actions, never states: When I was a child, I would read comics every night. (NOT: I would be shy.)

So if the subject is a state (a feeling, a place, a possession), use used to. If it is a repeated activity, both forms are possible, but would sounds more vivid and is especially common in narrative writing, while used to is the safer everyday choice.

Repair language

In real conversation, misunderstandings are normal, and skilled speakers use a small toolkit of phrases to keep communication flowing. The unit grouped these into repair language, and they fall into three families:

  1. Asking for repetition or clarification — Sorry? Could you say that again? I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you speak a bit more slowly, please?
  2. Reformulating what you mean — What I mean is … In other words … Or rather … What I'm trying to say is …
  3. Correcting yourself or someone else politely — Actually, … No, wait — … Sorry, I think I gave you the wrong number. Let me rephrase that.

Notice that several of these contain the small communication verbs catch, repeat, rephrase, clarify, mean. Recognising them helps you understand the phrases even when speakers use them quickly.

Writing task: a short article about change

In the writing steps that follow you will write a short article of around 120–160 words titled "A habit I have left behind". The writing-strategy box below reminds you to mix tenses for effect.

Using contrast — Place used to / would and the present perfect continuous in the same paragraph. Linkers such as however, now, these days, since then will make the shift between then and now clear for the reader.

أهلاً بيك في ريفيو الوحدة العاشرة من كورس Horizons B2. الوحدة دي كانت عن تلات حاجات كبار لازم يكونوا ثابتين في دماغك قبل ما تمشي: الـ present perfect continuous، و used to و would بتوع العادات في الماضي، وكمان Repair Language يعني اللغة اللي بنستخدمها لما الكلام يضيع مننا في وسط المحادثة.

الـ Present Perfect Continuous

الفورم بتاعها بسيط جداً: have/has + been + verb-ing. هي بتبين إن الفعل بدأ في الماضي ولسه شغال لحد دلوقتي، أو خلص من شوية بس أثره باين قدامك. مثال على كده من الجملة اللي في الريفيو:

  • I have been studying English for three years, and I still love it.

لاحظ إن الـ for هنا بتحدد المدة. وكمان في جمل تانية زي:

  • I have been working all day.
  • She has been studying since 5 a.m.

خد بالك من أهم غلطة عند مستوى B2: الأفعال الـ stative زي know, believe, want, like, own ما بنستخدمش معاها الـ continuous. بنقول I have known him for years مش I have been knowing him، لأن المعرفة حالة مش حركة.

Used to و Would

الاتنين بيحكوا عن عادات أو حاجات في الماضي بقت خلصت. بس فيه فرق مهم لازم تفتكره:

  • used to + infinitive: بتستخدم في عادات متكررة وفي حالات ثابتة كمان.
  • I used to live in Cairo.
  • I used to be very shy.
  • would + bare infinitive: بتستخدم بس في أفعال متكررة، مش حالات. يعني:
  • When I was a child, I would read comics every night. ✓
  • I would be shy. ✗ (غلط)

لو عايز تحكي عن إحساس أو مكان أو حاجة مكنتش عندك، استخدم used to. لو عايز تحكي عن طقس أو عادة، الاتنين ينفعوا، بس would بتبان أحلى في الحكي.

Repair Language

في المحادثات الحقيقية، الفهم بيضيع عادي، والسكيرت بتاع اللغة هو اللي بيعرف يصلّح الموقف من غير ما يبوّظ الجو. والطقم ده بيتقسم لتلات عوائل:

  • تطلب تكرار أو توضيح:
  • Sorry? Could you say that again?
  • Could you speak a bit more slowly, please?
  • I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.
  • تعيد صياغة كلامك:
  • What I mean is…
  • In other words…
  • Or rather…
  • تصحح نفسك أو حد تاني بأدب:
  • Actually, …
  • No, wait — …
  • Sorry, I think I gave you the wrong number.

لاحظ الأفعال الصغيرة اللي لازقة فيهم: catch, repeat, rephrase, clarify, mean. لو عرفتهم، هتقدر تفهم أي جملة repair حتى لو ما سمعتش كل كلمة.

يلا كده جرّب الكروت وورّيني إزاي هتطلّع الكلام ده على الورق في الـ writing task اللي جاي.

I have been studying English for three years, and I still love it.

Listen to the example. Notice the form have been + verb-ing with the time expression for three years.

Required

She ___ (work) at the same company since 2018, so she knows everyone there.

Required

When I was at primary school, I ___ walk to school every day with my brother.

  • used to
  • use to
  • am used to
Required

Drag the correct verb into each repair phrase. All the missing words are communication verbs.

  • mean
  • catch
  • rephrase
  • repeat

Sorry, I didn't that — could you say it again?

What I is that the train is delayed, not cancelled.

Could you the address more slowly, please?

Let me that in a simpler way.

Required

Put the words in order to make a correct present perfect continuous sentence.

  1. I
  2. have
  3. been
  4. waiting
  5. for
  6. two
  7. hours
Required

We ___ (live) in a small flat before we moved to this house.

Required

Match each definition with the correct communication verb.

Match each definition with the correct communication verb.

  • to ask someone to say something again
  • to say something again in different words
  • to understand what someone is saying
  • to make a message easier to understand
  • to repeat
  • to rephrase
  • to catch
  • to clarify
Required

Which group of time expressions is the most natural with the present perfect continuous?

  • for, since, all morning
  • yesterday, last week, ago
  • tomorrow, next year, soon
Required

The sentence 'When I was a child, I would be afraid of the dark.' is correct.

Required

Match each repair phrase with its function in conversation.

Match each repair phrase with its function in conversation.

  • asking for repetition
  • reformulating your own idea
  • politely correcting yourself
  • admitting you didn't understand
  • Could you say that again?
  • In other words,
  • Actually,
  • I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.
Required

Your colleague speaks very fast. Which sentence is the most natural repair phrase?

  • Could you speak a bit more slowly, please?
  • I am not agree with you.
  • I don't want to listen you.

PREPARE — gather your ideas.

Before you write, answer these questions in your notebook. Your answers will become the paragraphs of your article.

  1. What habit did you used to have? (e.g. biting your nails, watching TV all evening, eating fast food)
  2. When and where did you do it? (use would to add vivid detail)
  3. Why did you stop?
  4. What do you do now instead?
  5. How long have you been doing the new thing? (use the present perfect continuous)

Aim for two clear contrasts: then (old habit) and now (new activity).

WRITE — your short article.

Write 120–160 words under the title "A habit I have left behind".

Follow this simple structure:

  • Paragraph 1 — introduce the old habit with used to or would (3–4 sentences).
  • Paragraph 2 — explain why you stopped and what you do now (3–4 sentences), using the present perfect continuous for the new activity.
  • Paragraph 3 (optional) — a short reflection on the change.

Remember the strategy box: mix tenses for contrast. Linkers such as however, these days, since then will make the shift between past and present smooth.

REVIEW — check your work.

Before you finish, run through this quick checklist:

  1. Did you use used to or would correctly? (No state verbs after would!)
  2. Did you use have/has been + verb-ing for the new activity?
  3. Does each paragraph have a clear topic?
  4. Have you included at least two linkers (e.g. however, these days, now)?
  5. Is the spelling of used to correct in every case?
  6. Read your article aloud once to check the rhythm — if a sentence feels too long, split it.

If anything fails the check, edit the sentence and re-read. Now your article is ready to share.

Required