Using The Present Perfect Continuous Tense in English

How to use The Present Perfect Continuous Tense in English and Example Sentences

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Present perfect continuous describes the actions that started in the past and still continue. If a business that started in the past is probably incomplete, this process may still be in progress or this business may have been completed recently. Present perfect continuous indicates the action we are performing. When using this tens it is linked to the effects seen in the present. This tens is used when we want to highlight the process and how long something has been done.

Present perfect continuous tense is also used, although the effects of past events still persist. The words since and for are commonly used with present perfect continuous tense. Since, expressing the start date of an event; for indicates the time elapsed since the beginning of the event. Also recently and lately are also common envelopes used with present perfect continuous tense. Present perfect continuous tense is not used with verbs in non progressive verb.

Adverb of time used with present perfect continuous: Just before, this morning, twice this week, for two days, since Monday, so far, recently, lately, for a while now, for ten minutes, since 9 o’clock, all day, all morning etc.

Positive sentences established with present perfect continuous: In sentences formed with present perfect continuous tense, after the subject, the auxiliary verb (have / has) is used. ‘been’ is used after the auxiliary verb. Then the verb -ing is added.

• Children have been playing computer games in the lounge for two hours.
• He has been working for the same company since 2009.
• She has been watching TV for six hours.
• I have been playing paintball since 10th november.
• They have been going on a course to learn English for a long time.
• He has been reading a newspaper for two hours.

(All Tenses, Definitions and Example Sentences)

Negative sentences established with present perfect continuous tense: In negative sentences, the auxiliary verb has and has after the ‘note’ is added or haven’t and hasn’t used.

• I haven’t been anything with my Money.
• They haven’t been studying their books for six days.
• We haven’t been sleeping for two days.
• She haven’t been coming to Office since 12th july.
• We haven’t been listening to music for a long time.
• They haven’t been living here since 2015.
• The baby hasn’t been crying for three hours.

 

Question sentences established with present perfect continuous tense: In question sentences, the auxiliary verb (have / has) precedes the subject. verb -ing is also add in question sentences. ‘How long’ is the favorite question of present perfect continuous tense.

• How long have you been seeing his?
• Who have they been talking to?
• Has he been playing computer game since Monday?
• Has Jack living in England since 16th april?
• Have the kids crying for two days?
• How long have you been playing chess?
• You are out of breath. Have you been fighting?

The short answers to the question answers should be: yes, he has / yes, they have / no, it has not / no, we have not / no, i haven’t etc.

Example Sentences with Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• I have been travelling to this country for four days.
• We have been learning English since last winter.
• The child has been watching TV all afternoon.
• He has not (hasn’t) been walking.
• The child has not (hasn’t) been wearing a hat.
• I have not (haven’t) been working since morning.
• Your eyes are wet. Have you been cutting onions?
• Has they been playing since morning?
• You look very tired. Have you been working for a long time?