What is the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
The present perfect continuous tense is a verb tense used to describe actions or events that started in the past and are still continuing in the present, or that have recently been completed but still have relevance.
When to Use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
Actions Started in the Past and Continuing in the Present
Eg:
He has been driving for four hours. (he is still driving)
They have been living here since May. (they are still living there)
Recently Completed Actions with Present Effects
Eg:
He is tired because he has been running. (he has stopped running)
I have been working on this project all day. (I have just stopped working)
NOTE
It can be used to:
Focus on the duration of an action
Eg.
I have been reading this book for two weeks.
She has been playing guitar for four months.
Explain the cause of a current situation
Eg.
The grass is wet because it has been raining.
They are exhausted because they have been walking all day.
Structure
The present perfect continuous tense is formed using:
Subject + have/has + been + present participle (verb + -ing)
NOTE
The use of auxiliary verbs ‘to have’ + ‘to be’
Affirmative vs Negative Sentences
|
Subject |
Have |
Been |
-ing |
Affirmative |
I/ You |
have |
been |
reading |
Negative |
haven't |
|||
Affirmative |
He/ She/ It |
has |
been |
reading |
Negative |
hasn't |
|||
Affirmative |
We/ They |
have |
been |
reading |
Negative |
haven't |
Questions
The structure for questions look a little different in the present perfect continuous.
Have/has + Subject + been + present participle (-ing form)
Have |
Subject |
Been |
-ing |
Have |
I/ You |
been |
reading? |
Has |
He/ She/ It |
been |
reading? |
Have |
We/ They |
been |
reading? |
Key points to remember
The present perfect continuous emphasizes the duration and ongoing nature of an activity.
It is often used with time expressions like "for," "since," "all day," "lately," "recently," etc.
It links past actions to the present, showing their effects or continuation.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
Complete the following sentences using the present perfect continuous tense.
She _______ (study) for her exams for the past three hours.
They _______ (live) in New York since January.
I _______ (work) on this project all day.
He _______ (run) because he is training for a marathon.
We _______ (wait) for the bus for twenty minutes.
Choose the Correct Option
Select the correct form of the verb to complete each sentence.
She (has/have) _______ been _______ (learning/learned) Spanish for five years.
The children (has/have) _______ been _______ (play/playing) in the park since morning.
He (has/have) _______ been _______ (work/working) here for a decade.
I (has/have) _______ been _______ (read/reading) this book for a week.
They (has/have) _______ been _______ (study/studying) hard for the exams.
Answers
Fill in the Blanks
She has been studying for her exams for the past three hours.
They have been living in New York since January.
I have been working on this project all day.
He has been running because he is training for a marathon.
We have been waiting for the bus for twenty minutes.
Choose the Correct Option
She has been learning Spanish for five years.
The children have been playing in the park since morning.
He has been working here for a decade.
I have been reading this book for a week.
They have been studying hard for the exams.