Present Perfect Continuous

Definition

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense describes actions that started in the past and are still continuing in the present. It emphasizes duration of an activity that has been ongoing.

Formula: Subject + has/have + been + Present Participle (V1 + ing) + Object
Tip: Use for with durations and since with a starting point in time.
Uses of Present Perfect Continuous Tense
# Use Description Examples
1 Duration of an ongoing action Shows how long an activity has been happening up to now. I have been studying English for three years.
She has been working here since 2015.
2 Recently completed actions with present result Emphasizes an action that has just finished and its effect on the present. He is tired because he has been running for an hour.
They are wet because they have been playing football since morning.
3 Repeated actions until now Shows repeated or habitual actions continuing until now. We have been visiting our grandparents since last month.
I have been exercising for two hours.
Sentence Structures

Positive Structure

Subject + has/have + been + Present Participle (V1 + ing) + Object

1) I have been studying English for three years.
2) She has been working here since 2015.
3) They have been playing football for two hours.

Negative Structure

Subject + has/have not (hasn’t/haven’t) + been + Present Participle (V1 + ing) + Object

1) I haven’t been studying English for three years.
2) She hasn’t been working here since 2015.
3) They haven’t been playing football for two hours.

Interrogative Structure

Has/Have + Subject + been + Present Participle (V1 + ing) + Object?

1) Have you been studying English for three years?
2) Has she been working here since 2015?
3) Have they been playing football for two hours?

Negative Interrogative Structure

Has/Have + Subject + not + been + Present Participle (V1 + ing) + Object?

1) Haven’t you been studying English for three years?
2) Hasn’t she been working here since 2015?
3) Haven’t they been playing football for two hours?

Common Signal Words
  • for
  • since
  • all day / all week
  • recently
  • lately
Examples in Context
  • 1) I have been studying English for three years. (Positive)
  • 2) She hasn’t been sleeping well since last night. (Negative)
  • 3) Have you been working here for five years? (Interrogative)
  • 4) Haven’t they been traveling since morning? (Negative Interrogative)
  • 5) We have been living in this city for ten years. (Positive)
  • 6) He hasn’t been exercising for an hour. (Negative)
  • 7) Has she been studying since 6 a.m.? (Interrogative)
  • 8) Haven’t you been driving for two hours? (Negative Interrogative)
  • 9) They have been waiting for the bus for thirty minutes. (Positive)
  • 10) I haven’t been reading this book for long. (Negative)
  • 11) Has he been teaching for a decade? (Interrogative)
  • 12) Hasn’t she been working since morning? (Negative Interrogative)
  • 13) By next month, I have been doing yoga for two years. <