Example of Conversation In English In Present Perfect Continuous

During a conversation in English in the present perfect continuous, two or more people speak in this language about actions or events that they are still active and continue since a time ago. It is this permanence in the present that characterizes this tense. The moment the talk happens, the action or event continues, and it is even used indicate your start date. To better explain this, an example is shown:

I have been waiting at the hospital since 2pm.

For its translation into Spanish:

I've been waiting at the hospital since 2pm.

The action that is "wait in the hospital" starts at 2pm and continues to happen while the person makes the comment. In this tense, known in English as Present Perfect Progressive, there are grammar rules that tell how your affirmative, negative, and question structures go.

Conversation structure in English in the present perfect continuous affirmative

If the conversation in English in the present perfect continuous is affirmative, it will have the form:

Subject (person's name or noun) + verbs

has / have been + verb in gerund (-ing indicates continuous time) + predicate or rest of the sentence

In English it is written:

Name or noun + verbs has /have been + gerund + rest of the sentence

For example:

We have been working on the project since yesterday.

Translation to Spanish:

We have been working on the project since yesterday.

Conversation structure in English in the present perfect continuous negative

If the conversation in English in the present perfect continuous is negative, it will have the form:

Subject (person's name or noun) + verbs have you/have not been (with the denier not) + verb in gerund (-ing indicates continuous time) + predicate or rest of the sentence

In English it is written:

Name or noun + verbs has / have not been + gerund + rest of the sentence

For example:

She hasn´t been paying her bills since January, how irresponsible.

Translation to Spanish:

She hasn't been paying her bills since January, how irresponsible.

Conversation structure in English in present perfect continuous in question

If the conversation in English in the present perfect continuous is a question, it will have the form:

Verb has / have + subject (person's name or noun) + verb been + verb in gerund (-ing indicates continuous time) + predicate or rest of the question

In English it is written:

Verbs has /have + name or noun + verb been + gerund + rest of the sentence

For example:

Has he been trying to build a better relationship with her?

Translation to Spanish:

Has he tried to build a better relationship with her?

• Learn more at: Present perfect continuous in English

Example of conversation in English in present perfect continuous at work

Hannah: Have you been playing all this time?

Lauren: No. We've been doing some brainstorming.

John: And we've been trying to find a solution.

Hannah: Oh, so you've been thinking about it.

Lauren: Indeed, we've been finding the answer to the problem.

John: We've been listening to all the suggestions.

Hannah: So, where is your determination to start with it?

Lauren: We've been waiting for you to listen.

John: Finally, you've been telling us to ask permission every time.

Hannah: Show me the plan. Haven´t you been doing that?

Lauren: John, turn the monitor. Look, Hannah. We´ve been making this chart.

John: Really Hannah? Have you been planning to see us hanging around?

Translation to Spanish

Hannah: Have you been playing all this time?

Lauren: No. We have been brainstorming.

John: And we have been trying to find a solution.

Hannah: Oh, so they've been thinking about it.

Lauren: Of course, we have been finding the answer to the problem.

John: We have been listening to all the suggestions.

Hannah: So where is your determination to start with that?

Lauren: We've been waiting for you to listen.

John: In the end, you've been telling us to ask your permission every time.

Hannah: Show me the plan. Haven't they been doing that?

Lauren: John, turn the monitor over. Look, Hannah. We have been making this table.

John: Really Hannah? Have you been planning to see us hanging around?

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