This document discusses the present perfect continuous tense in English. It provides examples of how to form the present perfect continuous in the affirmative, negative, and interrogative. It explains that the present perfect continuous is used to emphasize how long something has been happening or actions that started in the past and are still continuing. It also discusses using the present perfect continuous to talk about new developments that may be temporary, as well as using it to talk about a recent continuous activity when the result can be seen. The document notes that stative verbs are not used in the present perfect continuous.

1. Past Now
action
x

2. Present Perfect
Continuous
Clue words
since
for
all day
only

3. Present Perfect
Continuous
Clue words
lately
recently
how long

4. Subject + have, has + been + -ing form
Forms: Present Perfect
Continuous
Affirmative
hike

5. Subject + have, has + been + -ing form
Forms: Present Perfect
Continuous
Affirmative

6. Subject + have, has + been + -ing form
Forms: Present Perfect
Continuous
Affirmative

7. They have
been hiking
since seven
o’clock.
Present Perfect Continuous

8. Subject + have, has + not + been + -ing form
Present Perfect
Continuous
Negative

9. Subject + have, has + not + been + -ing form
Present Perfect
Continuous
Negative

10. He hasn’t been
hiking
since last year.
Present Perfect Continuous

11. Have, has + subject + been + -ing form
Present Perfect
Continuous
Interrogative

12. Have they
been hiking
lately?
Present Perfect Continuous
Yes, they have.

13. We use the present perfect
continuous to emphasize how long
something has been going on.
Present Perfect
Continuous
past now
action
x
1.

14. How long have
you been
learning
English?
Present Perfect Continuous
learn

15. Present Perfect Continuous
learn
We’ve been
learning English
for ages.

16. They have
been talking
for the last
hour.
talk
Present Perfect Continuous

17. He’s been
surfing the net
since seven
o’clock.
surf
Present Perfect Continuous

18. Sophie has
been teaching
since October.
teach
Present Perfect Continuous

19. Present Perfect Continuous
wait
Have
you been
waiting long?

20. past now
2.
We also use the present perfect
continuous to talk about actions that
started in the past and are still continuing.
Present Perfect
Continuous
action
x

21. live(I’m still living in Paris.)
I’ve been living
in Paris since I
was born.
Present Perfect Continuous

22. Julie has been
playing the
piano since
she was four.
play
Present Perfect Continuous

23. James hasn’t
been smoking
since last month.
smoke
Present Perfect Continuous

24. 3.
With the adverbs lately or recently, we
use the present perfect continuous to talk
about new developments which may be
temporary.
past now
New
action
Present Perfect
Continuous

25. Helen has been
spending much
money in clothes
lately.
spend
Present Perfect Continuous
(= She didn't use to.)

26. They have
been doing
exercise
recently.
do
Present Perfect Continuous
(= They didn't use to.)

27. He’s been
cooking
lately.
cook
Present Perfect Continuous
(= He didn't use to.)

28. Present Perfect Continuous
work
What have
you been
doing lately?
I’ve been
working
in a pizzeria.

29. We use the present perfect continuous to
talk about a recent continuous activity,
when we can see the result.
past now
Present Perfect
Continuous
action
4.

30. past now
Present Perfect
Continuous
action
4.
The focus is on the activity rather than the
result. ln this case, we don't usually use a
time adverb.

31. She’s thirsty.
She has been
running.
run
Present Perfect Continuous

32. It's been raining,
so the pavement
is wet.
rain
Present Perfect Continuous

33. James is annoyed
because he’s been
waiting a long time
for Claire.
wait
Present Perfect Continuous

34. Present Perfect Continuous
She is very tired.
She has been
studying hard.
study

35. With stative verbs, we can't use the
present perfect continuous.
Instead of using the present perfect
continuous with these verbs, you
must use the present perfect.
Present Perfect Continuous

36. Mark has
had his car
for five years.
NOT Mark has been having his car for five years. .
Present Perfect Continuous
have

37. I've known
the secret
for a long time.
NOT I've been knowing the secret for a long time.
Present Perfect Continuous
know

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