Present perfect continuous

Present Perfect Continuous Present perfect continuous This page will present the present perfect continuous tense: • its form • and its use You may also be interested in the present perf

Present Perfect Continuous

Present perfect continuous

This page will present the present perfect continuous tense:

• its form

• and its use

You may also be interested in the present perfect simple

The form of the present perfect continuous:

Have (in the simple present) been verb + ing

I have been working I have not been working Have you been working?

Note:

I have been driving = I've been driving

I have not been driving = I haven't been driving

He has been sleeping = He's been sleeping

He has not been sleeping = He hasn't been sleeping

Examples:

• I have been studying English for two years.

• Have you been studying English for two years?

• She's been revising her lessons.

• She hasn't been hanging around with her friends.

The use of the present perfect continuous:

1 We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now indicating a duration "For an hour", for two weeks", etc are used to indicate duration

Examples:

• They have been watching TV for the last three hour.

• She has been studying at that institution for three years.

• What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes

2 The present perfect continuous is also used without indication of duration This use

indicates an action that has occurred "lately" or "recently"

Examples:

• I have been feeling really tired, recently.

• She has been smoking too much lately.