Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Continuous

Structure

Concepts

Exercises

"I've been waiting for you a long time, Alina," he said. “You and I are going to change the world” – The Darkling by Leigh Bardugo

Structure

Affirmative & negative

Contracted forms

Subject + have / has been + verb -ing + Complement

I have been living in that apartment for 3 years. She has been studying English since I was a kid.

have - 've has - 's haven't / hasn't

Questions

Have / has + Subject + been + verb -ing + C

Concepts

Has she been studying. for for a long time?

Concept: Emphasis on duration

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about an action that happens over a period of time, and lasts up to the present. When we use the Present Perfect Continuous, we normally emphasize the duration of the activity (for 10 minutes, since 2020, etc.).

• I've been wating for you for 10 minutes! (I'm waiting right now).

We also use this tense to speak about repeated actions over a period of time.

• I've been studying English since I was a child.

Click on the buttons for more examples.

For & Since

Recently, lately

Restrictions

For & since

Duration of an activity

We use for to talk about a period of time: I have been working on this project for one year.

We use since when we want to mention the point when the action began: I have been waiting here since noon.

To ask about the duration of the activity, you can ask "How long...": How long have you lived here? I have lived here for 10 years / since I was a kid.

Exercises

Back to concepts

Recently, lately

Repeated actions

We use recenly or lately to talk about an indefinite period of time that still continues: I have been eating a lot of vegetables lately / recently.

Exercises

Back to concepts

Exercises

Mixed

E1 Sentence halves

E2 Mixed concepts

You can practice the Present Perfect Continuous with these exercises.

You've finished!

Now, you're an expert in the use of the the Present Perfect Continuous! ;)