Present Perfect Continuous
We use the Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) to express actions that started in the past and continue in the present. This tense is also used to talk about actions which began in the past and have recently stopped.
Click to read about "for" and "since".
A sentence in the Present Perfect Continuous consists of:
Use
- Actions that started in the past and continue in the present
- Actions that have recently stopped
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Click to read about "for" and "since".
Form
Declarative sentences:
A sentence in the Present Perfect Continuous consists of:
- A subject
- A verb in the -ing form (present participle)
- Two auxiliary verbs ("been" and "have")
| Subject | + | Auxiliary verb | + | Auxiliary verb | + | Verb + ing |
| I/a dog etc. | has/have | been | swimming etc. |
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|
| My friend has been sleeping for five hours (Use 2) (he is still sleeping or she has just woken up) |
| Examples | Use | |
 |
She's been crying in her room for half an hour now | (Use 1) |
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We've been waiting for a good offer to buy a car since March | (Use 1) |
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I've been waiting for you to come (but now you're back!) | (Use 2) |
Questions:
| Auxiliary verb | + | Subject | + | Auxiliary verb | + | Verb + ing |
| has/have | I/a dog/ a man etc. | been | swimming etc. |
| Examples | Use | |
|
Have you been running? | (Use 2) |
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Has Tom been walking the dog? | (Use 2) |
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How long have you been learning English? | (Use 1) |
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Q: What have you been doing there? A: I've been eating |
(Use 1 or Use 2) |
Negative sentences:
| Subject | + | Auxiliary verb + not | + | Auxiliary verb | + | Verb + ing |
| I/a dog, a woman, etc. | hasn't / haven't | been | swimming, going etc. |
| Examples | Use | |
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I haven't been sleeping very well recently | (Use 1) |
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I haven't been waiting for 50 minutes | (Use 2) |
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John hasn't been using his A drive for a long time | (Use 1) |