Present Perfect Continuous
The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that began in the past and are still continuing or have recently stopped, with an emphasis on the duration or process of the action. It focuses on the activity rather than the result.
1. When Do We Use Present Perfect Continuous?
We use present perfect continuous to:
- Describe actions that started in the past and are still continuing at the present.
- I have been studying English for two years.
- I have been studying English for two years.
- Show actions that were happening recently and have just finished, but have an impact on the present.
- She is tired because she has been working all day.
- She is tired because she has been working all day.
- Indicate the duration of an activity up until the present moment.
- They have been waiting for an hour.
- They have been waiting for an hour.
- Explain the reason for a present result or situation.
-
He’s out of breath because he has been running.
-
2. Forming the Present Perfect Continous
- Structure: Subject + have/has + been + [verb + -ing]
- “Have” is used with plural subjects (I, you, we, they).
- “Has” is used with singular subjects (he, she, it).
- The main verb is always in its ing form.
- Use “been” between “have/has” and the main verb.
- Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Formation:
- I have been studying English for three years.
- She has been working all morning.
3. Common Time Expressions
The following time expressions are commonly used with the present perfect continuous tense:
- For (used to indicate the duration of an activity):
- I have been working for two hours.
- Since (used to indicate the starting point of the action):
- She has been studying since 9 AM.
- Lately / Recently (used for actions that have happened in the recent past):
- I have been feeling tired lately.
- All day / all week / all month (to indicate the action has been continuous throughout the period):
- They have been cleaning all day.
- How long (used in questions to inquire about the duration of an activity):
- How long have you been waiting?
3. Examples
- I have been learning to play the piano for a few months.
- They have been living in this city for ten years.
- She has been reading that book all day.
- We have been cleaning the house since morning.
- He has been traveling around Europe for the last two weeks.