[Grammar] I've been meaning to

Question 1

[make a sentence]
I / mean / call you / months.

Answer 1

I’ve been meaning to call you for months.

Question 2

[grammar: perfect tenses] я уже неделю не могу вызвать ремонтника (call in a specialist) - but I just haven’t had the time to do that.

Answer 2

I’ve been meaning to call in a specialist for a week now.

Question 3

[add one word to make the sentence more conversational]

I’ve been meaning to sort my socks, but I _ haven’t had the time or the willpower to do it.

Answer 3

I’ve been meaning to sort my socks, but I just haven’t had the time or the willpower to do it.

Question 4

‘but I haven’t had the time to do that’

what other words collocate with this phrase?
(не хватило денег / решимости / сил)

Answer 4

I haven’t had

• the finances to do that / the cash to do that
• the chance to do that / the opportunity to do that
• the guts to do that / the courage to do that / the heart to do that
• the energy to do that

Question 5

There’s _ restaurant I’ve been meaning to check out.

(what word makes your story more colorful?)

Answer 5

There’s this restaurant I’ve been meaning to check out..

Question 6

I’ve got a sink a full of dishes that I’ve been meaning to _ _ (= до которой я всё никак НЕ МОГУ ДОБРАТЬСЯ)

Answer 6

I’ve got a sink a full of dishes that I’ve been meaning to get to (= до которой я всё никак НЕ МОГУ ДОБРАТЬСЯ).

Question 7

I’ve been meaning to fix the leaking tap for ages, and I’ve only just _ _ to doing that. (у меня только сейчас ДОШЛИ ДО ЭТОГО РУКИ).

Answer 7

I’ve meaning to fix the leaking tap for ages, and I’ve only just got around to doing that. (у меня только сейчас ДОШЛИ ДО ЭТОГО РУКИ).

or:

got round

Question 8

I _ (всё не решаюсь) tell her that I have a commitment in London.

Answer 8

I haven’t had the heart to tell her that I have a commitment in London.

Question 9

I’ve been meaning to call my ex to ask him to p_ _ his stuff, but I just haven’t had the w_ to do that.

Answer 9

I’ve been meaning to call my ex to ask him to pick up his stuff, but I just haven’t had the willpower to do that.

/ˈwɪlpaʊə(r)/

Question 10

[make this more culturally appropriate]

When are you going to review my report?

Answer 10

Have you had a chance to review my report?

Question 11

something / I / mean / tell you, McKay.

Answer 11

There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you, McKay.

Question 12

I’ve had these scores for a couple years and for whatever reason I just _ (= всё не решаюсь) to apply.

Answer 12

I’ve had these scores for a couple years and for whatever reason I just haven’t had the guts to apply.

also: haven’t had the courage

Question 13

I do have to apologize because we’ve been so stressed out with Rothko being gone that _ (у нас пока не было возможности) to go to farmers’ market yet.

Answer 13

I do have to apologize because we’ve been so stressed out with Rothko being gone that we haven’t had the opportunity to go to farmers’ market yet.

also: haven’t had the chance

Question 14

I’ve been meaning to d_ _ (= renovate) my flat, but I haven’t had the f_ to do that.

Answer 14

I’ve been meaning to do up my flat, but I haven’t had the finances to do that.

/ˈfaɪnænsɪz/

Question 15

[grammar: perfect tenses] I’ve been meaning to call in a specialist for a week now, but _ (всё времени не хватает это сделать).

Answer 15

I’ve been meaning to call in a specialist for a week now, but I just haven’t had the time to do that.

Question 16

I’ve been meaning to _ _ taxes but I just haven’t had the _ to do that.

Answer 16

I’ve been meaning to do my taxes but I just haven’t had the energy to do that.

Question 17

Давно хотел тебя спросить..

Answer 17

You know, I’ve been meaning to ask you.

Question 18

And I’m sorry about the mess. It’s just been so busy _ (у меня не было времени) to clean, you know how it is.

Answer 18

And I’m sorry about the mess. It’s just been so busy I haven’t had the time to clean, you know how it is.

Question 19

Oh. You know, I / mean / organize that shelf for weeks.

Answer 19

Oh. You know, I’ve been meaning to organize that shelf for weeks.

Question 20

..travel and read all those books that I’ve been meaning to g_ _
and finally spend some more time with my brother and his family.

Answer 20

..travel and read all those books that I’ve been meaning to get to
and finally spend some more time with my brother and his family.

Question 21

Мне раньше не выпадало возможности compliment you on your beautiful theater.

Answer 21

I haven’t had the chance to compliment you on your beautiful theater.

Question 22

I mean, I have her address, I just _ (боюсь - не могу решиться) to contact her.

Answer 22

I mean, I have her address, I just haven’t had the courage to contact her.

Question 23

For those _ say hi to properly (= с кем у меня еще не было возможности как следует поздороваться), I’m Rosie.

Answer 23

For those I haven’t had the chance to say hi to properly, I’m Rosie.

Question 24

I’ve been meaning to _ (отремонтировать молнию), but I just haven’t had the time to do that.

Answer 24

I’ve been meaning to get my zip fixed, but I just haven’t had the time to do that.