English tenses/ESL and EFL Grammar
The use of present perfect continuous in English
The present perfect continuous tense is used to refer to any action that started at an unspecific time before “now” and perhaps continues. The user of the tense is usually interested in the results and the process. Look at the picture below to understand the tense.
The form of present perfect continuous
Subject + have/has + been + verb + ing
Example:
- I have been doing my homework.
The use of present perfect continuous
The present perfect continuous tense is used in three cases:
- To express an action in the past that has an effect in the present
- I’m very tired. I have been working all day.
- She is physically exhausted. She has been running for miles.
- He has become very confident. He has been delivering many speeches around schools.
- To talk about temporary repeated actions
- I have been watching the same movie these days.
- Susan has been visiting her uncle in the hospital this month.
- My friends have been playing the same video game this week.
- To express an action that is still continuing or that just finished.
- Najat has been working in this company since 2005.
- I have been playing football since 3 p.m.
- They have been sleeping for 12 hours.
Sometimes, the present perfect continuous can be used to:
- Focus on the duration of time
- She has been cleaning the house all day.
- I have been working on this project for 12 hours.
The forms of present perfect continuous
the affirmative form of present perfect continuous |
| I have been dancing all day You have been dancing all day He has been dancing all day She has been dancing all day It has been dancing all day We have been dancing all day You have been dancing all day They have been dancing all day |
The negative form of present perfect continuous |
| I haven’t been dancing all day You haven’t been dancing all day He hasn’t been dancing all day She hasn’t been dancing all day It hasn’t been dancing all day We haven’t been dancing all day You haven’t been dancing all day They haven’t been dancing all day |
The interrogative form of present perfect continuous |
| Have I been dancing all day? Have you been dancing all day? Has he been dancing all day? Has she been dancing all day? Has it been dancing all day? Have we been dancing all day? Have you been dancing all day? Have they been dancing all day? |
Note:
The present perfect continuous is used with the following time expressions
- These days, weeks, months …etc.
- All day, all morning, all week….etc.
- Since
- For
- Several times
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