The present perfect continuous tense is an advanced tense we use while describing an action that started in the past and continues in the present. In this article. we are going to explore and understand everything about this tense. Learning this tense will help you improve your English grammar and communication.
What is the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
The present perfect continuous tense is one of the important and interesting tenses in English grammar.
You might have already learned about the present perfect tense. As you know, the present perfect tense connects the past and the present. It lets us talk about things that started in the past and have continued up to the present time.
Similarly, the present perfect continuous tense links the past with the present. However, it focuses on actions or events that are still ongoing and not yet finished. The emphasis is more on the process of the action rather than on the result.
In other words, we use the present perfect continuous tense to describe actions or events that started in the past and are continuing in the present. This action might extend into the future as well. So, it’s an unfinished action that began in the past and is still happening now.
For example; “John has been trying to solve this problem since yesterday“.
By using this present perfect continuous tense sentence, we are trying to say that John started working on the problem yesterday and is still working on it today because he has not found a solution yet. It highlights an action that began in the past and is continuing. An unfinished action!
Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense
- I have been waiting for Mona since morning.
- He has been working hard for the past couple of weeks.
- Jenifer has been coming to work late recently.
- Kids have been playing since morning.
- She has been acting strange lately.
- They have been visiting us since 2012.
- We have been watching TV for two hours.
- It has been working fine since yesterday.
- I have been waiting for this moment since childhood.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Rule
In the sentences above, we have used the auxiliary verbs “have/has been,” along with the main verb in its -ing form.
In the present perfect continuous tense, the main verb is always in the -ing form. You must add -ing to the end of the verb. However, some verbs may require spelling changes. Therefore, it’s important to learn the correct verb forms.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Rule
| Subject | Auxiliary | Verb Form |
| I | Have been | V+ing |
| He/She/It | Has been | V+ing |
| We/You/They | Have been | V+ing |
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Structure
Now let’s look at the present perfect continuous tense structures we use to make sentences.
1. Present Perfect Continuous Affirmative Sentence Structure
Subject + have/has + been + Verb (-ing) + Object
Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Affirmative Sentences
- I have been sitting here for three and a half hours.
- You have been studying since morning.
- We have been living in this house since 1978.
- They have been waiting for the bus.
- Your mother has been drinking a lot these days.
- She has been working in her garden.
- It has been raining all day.
- The students have been learning English grammar since March.
- Alex cannot go outside as it has been raining all day.
- Monica has been watering the plants.
2. Present Perfect Continuous Negative Sentence Structure
Subject + have/has + not + been + Verb (-ing) + Object
Negative Present Perfect Continuous Sentence Examples
- I have not been sitting here for three and a half hours.
- You have not been studying since morning.
- We have not been living in this house since 1978.
- They have not been waiting for the bus.
- Your mother has not been drinking a lot these days.
- She has not been working in her garden.
- It has not been raining all day.
- The students have not been learning English grammar since March.
- Alex cannot go outside as it has not been raining all day.
- Monica has not been watering the plants.
3. Present Perfect Continuous Question Sentence Structure
Have/has + Subject + been + Verb (-ing) + Object?
Examples Of Present Perfect Continuous Tense Question Sentences
- Have I been sitting here for three and a half hours?
- Have you been studying since morning?
- Have we been living in this house since 1978?
- Have they been waiting for the bus?
- Has your mother been drinking a lot these days?
- Has she been working in her garden?
- Has it been raining all day?
- Have the students been learning English grammar since March?
- Has Monica been watering the plants?
4. Present Perfect Continuous Interrogative Negative Sentence Structure
Have/has + Subject + not + been + Verb (-ing) + Object?
Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense Interrogative Negative Sentences
- Have I not been sitting here for three and a half hours?
- Have you not been studying since morning?
- Have we not been living in this house since 1978?
- Have they not been waiting for the bus?
- Has your not mother been drinking a lot these days?
- Has she not been working in her garden?
- Has it not been raining all day?
- Have the students not been learning English grammar since March?
- Has Monica not been watering the plants?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Usages
When is the present perfect continuous tense used?
We can use the present perfect continuous tense in different situations. Below are the situations where you can use the present perfect continuous tense.
1. Something that started in the past and continues
We can use the present perfect continuous tense for something that started in the past and continues in the present.
For example; They have been working on this project for nine years.
(They started to work on a project nine years ago and are still working. The project is under process and not finished yet)
Some more such Examples are:-
- Gas prices have been increasing for the past couple of months.
- I have been performing on stage since my childhood.
- My brother has been working in this company for a decade now.
- They have been protesting since last year.
2. Something that started in the past and finished recently
We can also use present perfect continuous tense for something that started in the past and finished recently.
For example; Where were you? We have been looking for you all day.
(In this perfect continuous sentence, we have been looking for someone until he showed up. So, an action was started in the past and continued till the present and finished.)
Some more such Examples are:-
- Olivia has been trying to reach you since morning.
- Emma, I know you have been waiting for me.
Contraction With Present Perfect Continuous
It is quite common that when we speak or write we use contractions with the present perfect continuous, especially in a casual or informal situation. Let’s see how we use contraction with the Present Perfect Continuous.
With Affirmative Sentence
I’ve been sitting here for three and a half hours. (I have – I’ve)
She’s been working in her garden. (She has – she’s)
I have been – I’ve been
You have been – you’ve been
He has been – he’s been
She has been – she’s been
We have been – we’ve been
They have been – they’ve been
It has been – it’s been
With Negative Sentence
Have not been – Haven’t been
Has not – Hasn’t been
I haven’t been sitting here for five hours.
She hasn’t been working in her garden.
With Interrogative Negative Sentence
We can use the below sentence structure for interrogative negative sentences in present perfect continuous.
Haven’t / Hasn’t + Subject + been + Verb (-ing) + Object?
Haven’t you been studying since morning?
Haven’t we been living in this house since 1978?
Hasn’t she been working in her garden?
Hasn’t it been raining all day?
