Present Perfect Continuous

Subject + have + been + verb+ing I have been doing Structure: Subject + have + been + verb+ing I have been doing

He/she/it has been doing Affirmative I have been doing You have been doing He/she/it has been doing We have been doing They have been doing

Has he/she/it been doing? Interrogative Have I been doing? Have you been doing? Has he/she/it been doing? Have we been doing? Have they been doing?

Negative I have not been doing You have not been doing He/she/it has not been doing We have not been doing They have not been doing

The Diagram of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous generally describes past events which are connected to the present.

Common uses

Recent activities What have you been doing lately Continuing activities How long have you been living here? Repeated actions I have been phoning her for days.

examples

I have been walking for two hours

My dog has been running for hours.

They have been playing basketball since ten o’clock

It is snowing now. It began two days ago It is snowing now. It began two days ago. It has been snowing for two days

I have been writing all day.

Comparison of Present Perfect Continuous and Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple often emphasizes that an action is finished Present Perfect Simple often emphasizes that an action is finished. but Present Perfect Continuous can emphasize that it is still going on.

Present Perfect Simple I have written five letters It stresses that the action is completed

Present Perfect Continuous I have been writing letters May be the writer has not finished

In the Present Perfect Simple the important thing is that something has been finished

In the Present Perfect Continuous It doesn’t matter whether something has been finished or not.

example

Present Perfect Simple I haven’t caught it yet

Here We are interested in the result of the activity Here We are interested in the result of the activity. the result He hasn’t caught it yet!

Present Perfect Continuous I have been trying to catch it for hours

Here We are interested in the activity Here We are interested in the activity. Activity He has been trying to catch it!

Time Expressions which are used with Present Perfect Simple: ever, never, already, yet, just, so far, for, since, etc.

Time Expressions which are used with Present Perfect Continuous recently, lately, all day, all week, all morning, for ages, since, for, etc.

Note: With certain verbs such as; live, work, teach, learn, study,etc Note: With certain verbs such as; live, work, teach, learn, study,etc. generally there is no difference in meaning between the two tenses when since or for is used.

I have worked at the same place since 1969

..or I have been working at the same place since 1969

She has lived in the same house since she was born

..or She has been living in the same house since she was born

examples

Yesterday my car broke down. I have already repaired it

It is ready, I can drive it now

Why are your hands dirty. What have you been doing Why are your hands dirty? What have you been doing? I have been repairing my car.

I have learned Italian for two years.

exercises

Complete the sentences using the Present Perfect Simple or the Present Perfect Continuous of the verbs in parentheses

‘You look tired.’ ‘I (wash) clothes all day’ I (clean) the car. Doesn’t it look nice? I (do) Christmas shopping all day. My mother (do) all her Christmas shopping. I (learn) most of the irregular verbs. I (learn) German for six years.

James (go) out every night this week. He (see) a lot Alexandra recently. How long (you wait)? I (wait) long enough I’m going. I (read) your book. I’m enjoying it.

The End