booksGRAMMAR


Present Perfect Continuous


Present perfect continuous

This page will present the present perfect continuous tense:

  • its form
  • and its use

You may also be interested in the present perfect simple.

The form of the present perfect continuous:

Have (in the simple present) been verb + ing

Affirmative Negative Interrogative
I have been working. I have not been working. Have you been working?

Note:

I have been driving = I've been driving
I have not been driving = I haven't been driving
He has been sleeping = He's been sleeping
He has not been sleeping = He hasn't been sleeping

Examples:

  • I have been studying English for two years.
  • Have you been studying English for two years?
  • She's been revising her lessons.
  • She hasn't been hanging around with her friends.

The use of the present perfect continuous:

present perfect continuous

1. We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now indicating a duration. "For an hour", for two weeks", etc ...are used to indicate duration.

Examples:

  • They have been watching TV for the last three hour.
  • She has been studying at that institution for three years.
  • What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes

2. The present perfect continuous is also used without indication of duration. This use indicates an action that has occurred "lately" or "recently".

Examples:

  • I have been feeling really tired, recently.
  • She has been smoking too much lately.

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