You took off work for 6 weeks for maternity leave. You returned to work this week, and now you're trying to figure out what you're supposed to work on. A coworker who you see in the elevator asks you if you've settled back in yet. This is how you reply.
So far I've just been getting caught up.
so far
"So far" means "until now". You use "so far" when you are comparing what has already happened with what is going to or might happen. For example:
I started playing the guitar last year. I haven't performed publicly so far, but I think I'll be ready soon.
We've made over fifteen million dollars so far this year.
(someone) has been (doing something)
You use "has been ___ing" when someone started doing something in the past, continued doing it, and is still doing it now. This can be an action that continues without stopping, or something that happens again and again. For example:
You've been sitting there at your computer for over two hours.
I've been designing web pages for over ten years.
get caught up
Imagine that work or school are like a race. If you stop to take a rest, everyone will keep running ahead, and if you want to continue you'll have to run extra hard to reach where they are. In a race, to "catch up" to someone means to reach where they are after starting out behind them.
At work, when you start a new job or come back after a vacation, you have to "get caught up". This means to work hard so that you can figure out what's happening and get ready to work.
(Print this lesson)
Follow PhraseMix