Present Perfect Continuous
FORM
[has/have + been + present
participle]
Examples:
You have been
waiting here for two hours.
Have you been
waiting here for two hours?
You have not been
waiting here for two hours.
Complete List of Present Perfect
Continuous Forms
USE 1 Duration from the Past Until
Now
We use the Present Perfect
Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up
until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and
"since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present
Perfect Continuous.
Examples:
They have been
talking for the last hour.
She has been
working at that company for three years.
What have you
been doing for the last 30 minutes?
James has been
teaching at the university since June.
We have been
waiting here for over two hours!
Why has Nancy not
been taking her medicine for the last three days?
USE 2 Recently, Lately
You can also use the Present Perfect
Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks." Without the
duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often
use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this
meaning.
Examples:
Recently, I have
been feeling really tired.
She has been
watching too much television lately.
Have you been
exercising lately?
Mary has been
feeling a little depressed.
Lisa has not been
practicing her English.
What have you
been doing?
IMPORTANT
Remember that the Present Perfect
Continuous has the meaning of "lately" or "recently." If
you use the Present Perfect Continuous in a question such as "Have you
been feeling alright?", it can suggest that the person looks sick or
unhealthy. A question such as "Have you been smoking?" can suggest
that you smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests
you can see, smell, hear or feel the results of the action. It is possible to
insult someone by using this tense incorrectly.
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed
Verbs
It is important to remember that
Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain
non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses.
Instead of using Present Perfect Continuous with these verbs, you must use
Present Perfect.
Examples:
Sam has been
having his car for two years. Not Correct
Sam has had his
car for two years. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the
placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just,
etc.
Examples:
You have only
been waiting here for one hour.
Have you only
been waiting here for one hour?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Recently, John
has been doing the work. Active
Recently, the
work has been being done by John. Passive
NOTE: Present Perfect Continuous is
less commonly used in its passive form.
Present Perfect Continuous
Forms
Positive
|
Negative
|
Question
|
I have been
sleeping.
You have
been sleeping.
We have been
sleeping.
Theyhave been
sleeping.
He has been
sleeping.
She has been
sleeping.
It has been
sleeping.
|
I have not
been sleeping.
You have not
been sleeping.
We have not
been sleeping.
They have
not been sleeping.
He has not
been sleeping.
She has not
been sleeping.
It has not
been sleeping.
|
Have Ibeen
sleeping?
Have youbeen
sleeping?
Have webeen
sleeping?
Havethey been
sleeping?
Has hebeen
sleeping?
Has shebeen
sleeping?
Has itbeen
sleeping?
|
