Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Rules, Examples & Usage | English Grammar
Last Updated: 01 Jul, 2025
Welcome! In this lesson, you'll learn all about the Present Perfect Continuous Tense in English grammar. We'll cover the formation, usage, and provide plenty of examples. You'll discover how to emphasize duration and ongoing actions that connect the past with the present.
What is Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Definition: Present perfect continuous tense describes actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or have recently finished. It uses have/has + been + verb-ing to emphasize the duration of an activity.
Why is Present Perfect Continuous Important? It's essential for emphasizing how long something has been happening and for describing ongoing activities that have present relevance.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Structure
| Sentence Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | Subject + have/has + been + verb-ing | I have been working / She has been reading |
| Negative | Subject + have/has + not + been + verb-ing | I haven't been working / She hasn't been reading |
| Question | Have/Has + Subject + been + verb-ing? | Have I been working? / Has she been reading? |
Use "have" with I/you/we/they and "has" with he/she/it, followed by "been" and the -ing form.
When to Use Present Perfect Continuous Tense
1. Ongoing Actions from Past to Present
- I have been living here for five years. (Still living here)
- She has been working there since 2020. (Still working)
- They have been studying English for months. (Still studying)
- We have been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes. (Still waiting)
2. Recently Finished Actions with Present Evidence
- I have been cooking. (The kitchen smells of food)
- She has been crying. (Her eyes are red)
- They have been playing football. (They're tired and dirty)
- He has been running. (He's out of breath)
3. Emphasis on Duration
- I have been reading this book for three hours.
- She has been practicing piano all morning.
- They have been traveling for weeks.
- We have been discussing this issue for days.
4. Temporary Situations
- I have been staying at my friend's house this week.
- She has been taking extra classes recently.
- They have been renting a car while theirs is being repaired.
- We have been using the backup system since yesterday.
Adding -ing to Verbs
| Rule | Base Verb | -ing Form |
|---|---|---|
| Most verbs: add -ing | work, play, read | working, playing, reading |
| Ends in -e: drop e, add -ing | make, take, write | making, taking, writing |
| One syllable, consonant-vowel-consonant: double final consonant | run, stop, sit | running, stopping, sitting |
| Ends in -ie: change ie to y, add -ing | lie, die | lying, dying |
📌 Present Perfect Continuous Challenge!
Complete the sentences with the correct form:
- She _____ (study) for three hours.
- I _____ (not/sleep) well lately.
- How long _____ you _____ (work) here?
- They _____ (wait) since morning.
Show Answers
- She has been studying for three hours.
- I haven't been sleeping well lately.
- How long have you been working here?
- They have been waiting since morning.
Common Time Expressions
Duration
- for + period (for 2 hours)
- since + starting point (since 9 AM)
- all day/week/month/year
Questions & Time
- How long...?
- recently, lately
- this morning/afternoon
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting "been": ❌ "I have working" ✅ "I have been working"
- Wrong auxiliary: ❌ "She have been studying" ✅ "She has been studying"
- Missing -ing: ❌ "I have been work" ✅ "I have been working"
- Using with stative verbs: ❌ "I have been knowing him" ✅ "I have known him"
- Wrong question formation: ❌ "How long you have been waiting?" ✅ "How long have you been waiting?"
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Choose the correct form
- I (have been living/have lived) here since January.
- She (has been cooking/has cooked) all morning.
- (Have you been waiting/Did you wait) for a long time?
- They (have been playing/have played) tennis for hours.
- We (haven't been seeing/haven't seen) him lately.
Show Answers
- have been living
- has been cooking
- Have you been waiting
- have been playing
- haven't seen (stative verb)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is present perfect continuous tense?
Present perfect continuous tense describes actions that started in the past and are still continuing or have recently stopped. It uses have/has + been + verb-ing to emphasize duration.
How do you form present perfect continuous tense?
Use have + been + verb-ing with I/you/we/they, and has + been + verb-ing with he/she/it. Examples: I have been working, She has been studying.
What are some examples of present perfect continuous tense?
Examples include: I have been living here for 5 years, She has been working since morning, They have been playing for hours, We have been waiting for you.
When do we use present perfect continuous tense?
Use present perfect continuous for: ongoing actions from past to present, recently finished actions with present evidence, emphasis on duration, and temporary situations.
What's the difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous?
Present perfect focuses on completion (I have finished), while present perfect continuous emphasizes duration and ongoing nature (I have been working for 3 hours).
How do you make negative sentences in present perfect continuous?
Add "not" after have/has: I have not (haven't) been working, She has not (hasn't) been studying.
How do you ask questions in present perfect continuous?
Put have/has before the subject: Have you been working? Has she been studying? How long have you been waiting?
What time expressions are used with present perfect continuous?
Common expressions: for, since, all day/week/month/year, recently, lately, how long, the whole time, this morning/afternoon.
Conclusion
Present Perfect Continuous Tense is essential for emphasizing duration and ongoing activities. Master the have/has + been + verb-ing pattern to express how long something has been happening and show the connection between past actions and the present!