Present Perfect Continuous

perfect continuous)
See conjugation table: Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect continuous often has the equivalent translation of 'to have been + '
"gerund" in Spanish, but the use of this form is more frequent in English. It is used to
actions that you started in the past but continue in the present.

Grammatical Rules

Form
As in the present perfect, we use the auxiliary verb 'to have' in addition to 'been' (the
past participle of the verb 'to be' and the gerund of the verb.
Subject Auxiliaries Gerund

talking
I have been studying
waiting...
talking
He, She, It has been studying
waiting...

Structure
1. Affirmative Sentences
Subject structure + auxiliary verb ('to have') + 'been' + gerund.

oExamples:
oPlay
They've been talking for three hours.
o Play
She has been studying English since she was 16.
years.)
oPlay
I've been waiting for you for over an hour!
2. Negative Sentences
Subject structure + auxiliary verb ('to have') + 'not' + 'been' + gerund.

oExamples:
oPlay
They haven't been talking for more than a few minutes.
minutes.)
oPlay
She hasn't been studying English for very long.
time.)
oPlay
 Don't worry, I haven't been waiting long.
3. Interrogative Sentences
Auxiliary verb structure ('to have') + subject + 'been' + gerund?

oExamples:
oPlay
Have they been talking for a long time?
o
oPlay
Has Mary been waiting long?

Use

We use this tense when we want to express the sense of the continuity of an action that
has started in the past and still lasts in the present or has just finished.

We refer to something that we have been doing over a period of time, therefore, we use
the time prepositions 'for' and 'since'.
If we use the present perfect continuous without a time period, it means "lately" or
recently
Examples:
Play
I can't believe it is still raining. It's been raining for a week now!
It's raining. It has been raining for a week!
Play
John has been working at the bank since 2003.
Play
We've been planning our vacation for over a month.
more than a month ago.
Play
Amanda and Tom have been dating since last June.
past.)
Play
He hasn't been studying enough.
Play
Have you been feeling okay lately?
Play
I've been working too much.

Present Perfect Continuous

FORM

[has/have + been + present participle]

Examples:

You have been waiting here for two hours.

Have you been waiting here for two hours?
You have not been waiting here for two hours.

Complete List of Present Perfect Continuous Forms

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past.
and has continued up until now. 'For five minutes,' 'for two weeks,' and 'since '
Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous.

Examples:

They have been talking for the last hour.

She has been working at that company for three years.
What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
James has been teaching at the university since June.
We have been waiting here for over two hours!
Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

Recently, Lately

You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as
for two weeks.
lately. We often use the words 'lately' or 'recently' to emphasize this meaning.

Examples:

Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

She has been watching too much television lately.
Have you been exercising lately?
Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
Lisa has not been practicing her English.
 What have you been doing?

IMPORTANT

Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has the meaning of 'lately' or
recently. If you use the Present Perfect Continuous in a question such as 'Have '
You've been feeling alright? It can suggest that the person looks sick or unhealthy.
Questions such as 'Have you been smoking?' can imply that you smell the smoke.
on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests you can see, smell, hear or
Feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult someone by using this tense.
incorrectly.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember thatNon-Continuous Verbscannot be used in any

continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings forMixed Verbscannot
be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Perfect Continuous with
these verbs, you must use Present Perfect.

Examples:

Sam has been having his car for two years.

Sam has had his car for two years.

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

You have only been waiting here for one hour.

Have you only been waiting here for one hour?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Recently, John has been doing the work. ACTIVE

Recently, the work has been being done by John.

NOTE: The Present Perfect Continuous is less commonly used in its passive form.
Present Perfect Continuous
Use. Structure. Points to Remember

The 'Present Perfect Continuous' is mainly used

to talk about actions that occurred in the past and continue in the present.

They have been playing all day.

HOW IS IT FORMED?

The Present Perfect Continuous is formed with the verb 'to have' accompanied by a
participle and a verb ending in -ing.

AFFIRMATIVE: To form the affirmative we put the corresponding form of the

auxiliary 'have' accompanied by the participle 'been' and a verb in -ing.

SUBJECT+HAVE/HAS BEEN+VERB IN-ING+REST OF THE SENTENCE

They have been playing all day.

They have been playing all day.

We can also see this contracted verb (they've/ she's)

NEGATIVE: To form the negative we have to negate the auxiliary 'have'.

Remember that 'have' acts as an auxiliary, so it can negate itself.

SUBJECT + HAVEN'T/HASN'T + BEEN + VERB IN-ING + REST OF THE PHRASE

They have been playing all day.

 They haven't been playing all day.

Just like in affirmative, we can find the complete form (have

not / has not) or the contracted form (hasn't / haven't)

INTERROGATIVE: To form the interrogative we have to invert the auxiliary.

'have' and the subject.

HAVE/HAS+SUBJECT+PARTICIPLE+VERB IN-ING+REMAINDER OF THE SENTENCE?

Have they been playing all day?

Have they been playing all day?

WHAT SHOULD I REMEMBER?

The important thing we need to keep in mind is the following:

We must keep in mind that the third person is 'has' and for the rest of
we use 'have'.

Remember the spelling rules for verbs ending in -ing.

You can consult them in the Present Continuous section.

Although their main use is the one I mentioned earlier, we can find
various uses of this time.

· Actions that started in the past and continue in the present (i.e. They
have been playing all day).

It is also used to talk about a past action that surely has

recently terminated.The alarm has been sounding all night.

In addition, it is used for past actions that have just finished and that
We know for something evident (I.e. Have you been reading?)

Present perfect continuous

It is formed with the subject + have/has + been + gerund.

Example: I have been studying

It is used:
1. To talk about an action that has just finished or has recently ended.

Example: You look tired. Yes, I have been running.

It is also used to express how long an activity has lasted.

3. It is used with questions with how long and since and for.

Ejemplos:How long have you been living here? ¿Cuanto tiempo llevas viviendo aquí?
I have been living here since 2006.
I have been living in this flat for 2 years.

What is the difference between the present perfect and the present perfect continuous?

1. When you use the present perfect continuous, the emphasis is on the duration of the activity.

It has been raining for 2 hours.

It is also used for those who are more interested in an action that is not finished yet.

Example

The present perfect simple is used to say that something is finished.

Examples:
I have written a letter. (the letter is finished)
I have been writing a letter. (the letter is not finished)

The present perfect continuous is used to say how long the activity has lasted.

I have been writing this letter for an hour.

5. The present perfect simple is used to say how many things we have done or how many times we have
I did something.

Example:
I have read 3 chapters of this book.
This week I have been to the beach every day.

Sometimes there is not much difference between the two.

Example:

I have been living here since 2006.

I have lived here since 2006.

I have been living here since 2006.

Exercise
Complete the sentences with the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous and then doaclick
hereto see the answers.
I tidy the house.
He is dirty because he repaired the car.
I lost my keys.
I am cooking dinner now the dinner is ready.
I have been waiting for 3 hours.

1.- Present perfect continuous

This verbal form is used when one is interested in highlighting the action itself.
same more than the result; it is not specified whether the action has finished or not(the
the action began in the past and may have just finished or even
continue)

I have been reading a book

finished the book or not

This time is also used to indicate the duration of an action that

began in the past (and has just ended or is still ongoing).

I have been playing tennis for two hours

I have been waiting for him for 1 hour (the other person may have just finished)
to arrive or for me to still be waiting; the context will determine one sense or another.

The use of this tense indicates that the sender considers that the duration has
to the addresses.

2.- Present perfect simple

Describe an action that started in the past and has just finished.
the end result and not in the action itself.

I have read a book (I emphasize that I have read a book, that I have finished it, and not the
having dedicated some time to reading.

In the following example, you can observe the difference between these two forms.
verbal

I have done my homework (I indicate that I have already finished it)

I have been doing my homework.

developing; I do not inform whether I have finished my homework or not)

It is also used to indicate how many actions have been performed in a time.
determined.
Today I have read ten books.

The use of this tense indirectly informs about the present, since
it means that the situation has not changed.

He has gone to Canada (is this person still in Canada or is he traveling there;
in any case he/she has not returned yet)

I have broken my leg (the leg is still broken; it has not healed yet)

If no information is given about the present, the 'past simple' must be used.

He went to Canada (it is not reported whether he is still there or has already returned)

I broke my leg (it may be healed already or it may still be broken)

In those verbs where the continuous form is not used (lesson 17) there is
that resort to all these assumptions topresent perfect simple.

progressive present perfect

What have you been doing?

subject + have / has + been + 1 > 1 2 3

ing go went gone

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I have been going I haven't been going Have I been going?
You have been You haven't been Have you been going
going going ?
He has been going He hasn't been going. Has he been going?
She has been She hasn't been Has she been going
going going ?
It has been going It hasn't been going Has it been going?
We have been We haven't been Have we been going
going going ?
You have been You haven't been Have you been going
going going ?
 They have been They haven't been Have they been
going going going ?
subject + have/has + been + 1 >
Affirmative
ing
I have been going to New York
He has been going to New York
subject + haven't / hasn't + been +
Negative
ing
I haven't been going to New York.
York
He hasn't been going to New York.
York
Have / Has + subject + been + 1 >
Interrogative
ing
Have I been going to New York?
?
Has he been going to New York?
York?

uses of the present perfect continuous

Activities that began in the past and

continue in the present and highlight the duration of
process.
Monica and her husband have been living in Barcelona for ten years.
Mónica and her husband have been living in Barcelona for ten years.

Actions that began in the past and may or

not having recently finished and highlighting the
duration of the process.
The weather is really bad. It has been raining all night.
The weather is really bad. It has been raining all night.

Actions from the past that have just concluded and whose
The state is evident.
Hmm. Nice smelling!! Have you been cooking your birthday cake?
Hmm. What a lovely aroma!! Have you been baking your cake?
birthday?
 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

USE

We use the present perfect continuous to talk about an action that has been
developed for some time in the past and has just finished. The
The effects of that action are felt in the present.

She has been running

We want to say that he was running, he just stopped, but he is still

feels tired.

We've been playing volleyball.

They've been fighting.
She's been washing her hair.

This last example means that he/she was just washing their hair.
Now it is no longer being washed, but the effects of the action can be seen in the
present: your hair is still wet, for example.

STRUCTURE

Affirmative: we use have/has + been + the -ing form of the verb.

He’s been writing letters all morning.

Negative: we use haven't/hasn't + been + the

ing form of the verb.
We haven't been reading much lately.

We have put before the

subject + been + the -ing form of the verb.
You look hot! Have you been running?

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

I have been singing
How do we make the Present Perfect
Continuous Tense?
The structure of the present perfect continuous tense is:

subject + auxiliary verb + auxiliary verb + main verb

have been base + ing

has

Here are some examples of the present perfect continuous tense:

subject auxiliary auxiliary main

verb verb verb

+ I have been waiting for one hour.

+ You have been talking too much.

It has not been raining.

- We have not been playing football.

? Have you been seeing her?

? Have they been doing their

homework?

Contractions

When we use the present perfect continuous tense in speaking, we often

contract the subject and the first auxiliary. We also sometimes do this in
informal writing.

I have been I've been

You have been You've been

He has been He's been

She has been She's been
It has been It's been
John has been John's been
The car has been The car's been

We have been We've been

They have been They've been

Here are some examples:

I've been reading.

The car's been giving trouble.
We've been playing tennis for two hours.

How do we use the Present Perfect?

Continuous Tense?
This tense is called the present perfect continuous tense. There is usually
a connection with the presenter now. There are basically two uses for the
present perfect continuous tense

An action that has just stopped or recently stopped

We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that
started in the past and stopped recently. There is usually a result now.

I'm tired because I've been running.

past present future

!!!

Recent action. Result now.

 I'm tired [now] because I've been running.
Why is the grass wet?[now]Has it been raining?
You don't understand [now] because you haven't been listening.

An action continuing up to now

We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that
started in the past and is continuing now. This is often used
withfororsince.

I have been reading for 2 hours.

past present future

Action started in the past. Action is continuing

now.

I have been reading for 2 hours. [I am still reading now.]

We've been studying since 9 o'clock. [We're still studying now.]
How long have you been learning English? [You are still learning]
now.
We have not been smoking. [And we are not smoking now.]

For and Since with Present Perfect

Continuous Tense
We often use for and since with the present perfect tense.

We use 'for' to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6

years.
We use 'since' to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st.
January, Monday.

for since

a period of time a point in past time

 x

20 minutes 6:15 PM

three days Monday

6 months January

4 years 1994

2 centuries 1800

a long time I left school

ever the beginning of time

etc etc

Here are some examples:

I have been studying for 3 hours.

I have been watching TV since 7pm.
Tara hasn't been feeling well for 2 weeks.
Tara hasn't been visiting us since March.
He has been playing football for a long time.
He has been living in Bangkok since he left school.