The Present Perfect Continuous tense uses two auxiliary verbs together with a main verb.
In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the Present Perfect Continuous tense, as well as the use of for and since, followed by a quiz to check your understanding.
Note that continuous tenses are also called progressive tenses. So the Present Perfect Continuous tense is sometimes called the Present Perfect Progressive tense.
The structure of the Present Perfect Continuous tense is:
| subject | + | auxiliary have | + | auxiliary be | + | main verb |
| conjugated in Present Simple | past participle | |||||
| have, has | been | present participle |
The first auxiliary (have) is conjugated in the Present Simple: have, has
The second auxiliary (be) is invariable in past participle form: been
The main verb is invariable in present participle form: -ing
For negative sentences we insert not after the first auxiliary verb.
For question sentences, we exchange the subject and first auxiliary verb.
Look at these example sentences with the Present Perfect Continuous tense:
| subject | auxiliary verb | auxiliary verb | main verb | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| + | I | have | been | waiting | for one hour. | |
| + | You | have | been | talking | too much. | |
| - | It | has | not | been | raining. | |
| - | We | have | not | been | playing | football. |
| ? | Have | you | been | seeing | her? | |
| ? | Have | they | been | doing | their homework? |
When we use the Present Perfect Continuous tense in speaking, we often contract the subject and the first auxiliary verb. We also sometimes do this in informal writing.
| I have been | I've been |
| You have been | You've been |
| He has been She has been It has been John has been The car has been | He's been She's been It's been John's been The car's been |
| We have been | We've been |
| They have been | They've been |
In negative sentences, we may contract the first auxiliary verb and "not":
This tense is called the Present Perfect Continuous tense. There is usually a connection with the present or now.
We use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about:
We use the Present Perfect Continuous tense to talk about action that started in the past and stopped recently. There is usually a result now.
We use the Present Perfect Continuous tense to talk about action that started in the past and is continuing now. This is often used with for or since.
We often use for and since with perfect tenses:
| for | since |
| a period of time | a point in past time |
| - - - - - - - - - - - - | - • - - - - - - - - - - |
| 30 minutes | 10.00am |
| four days | Friday |
| 3 months | March |
| 2 years | 2010 |
| 3 centuries | 1700 |
| ages | I left school |
| ever | the beginning of time |
| etc | etc |
Look at these example sentences using for and since with the Present Perfect Continuous tense:
Contributor: Josef Essberger, founder of EnglishClub.com. Originally from London, England, Josef is the author of several books for learners of English including English Prepositions List and Learn English in 7.
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