Present Perfect Continuous in English

The present perfect continuous is a verb form that combines characteristics of the present continuous (on an action that is still in progress) and the present perfect (an action that is completed or about to be completed). Thus, we use the present perfect continuous in English to talk about an action started in the past, still running, and that ends or is about to end at the moment it is spoken.

Rules and uses of the present perfect continuous in English:

Affirmative. The basic form of the present perfect continuous is formed by the verb to have in the present (have or has), followed by the participle of the verb to be (been) followed by the gerund of the verb that expresses the action:

Subject + have + been + gerund verb (ing)

Subject + has + been + gerund verb (ing)

We use it to talk about something that started in the past and continues to the present.

. In this case, it is common for it to be accompanied by expressions that express the passage of time, for (for, during) and since (from). For we use it to express a defined period, a known duration, while since we use it to indicate a point where the action begins and giving the idea that it continues until the end present:

Mary has been reading novels for three years.

We have been traveling since midnight.

Express an action that took place in the past and that is very likely to have finished very close to the present time:

Bob has been studying medicine since 2007.

The bell has been ringing all night long.

Express an action that was being carried out, and that has just finished:

What have you been reading?

I have been running all day long.

Writing variants of the present perfect continuous in English

Negative form. To express the negative form of the present perfect continuous in English, the negative particle, and in its case, the negative contraction, are applied in the verb have; the participle been and the gerund verb remain the same:

We haven't been playing football — We haven't been playing football

Susan hasn't been buying meat for dinner — Susan hasn't been buying piss for dinner.

Interrogative form. The interrogative form is made by putting the verb have at the beginning of the sentence, before the subject; the structure been + gerund verb remains the same:

Has Mary been reading novels again?

Have you been eating well?

exceptions

Not all actions can be expressed in the present perfect continuous. There are some verbs that only admit the continuous form or the perfect form, but not combined:

1. Verbs that express emotions. When the verbs express some emotions, they do not admit the use of the perfect continuous tense. Some of these verbs are, for example, believe (believe), love (love), wish (desire), think (believe). However, the same verb can have different meanings, and in certain contexts it admits the present perfect continuous.

As an example of this we can mention the verb to think. If we use it in the sense of believing, we can only use the perfect or continuous forms:

I am thinking you're wrong

I have thought you're sincere

When we use to think in the sense of thinking, reflecting and creating or remembering ideas, then it does admit the use of the present perfect continuous tense:

I have been thinking about our problem

We have been thinking how to make this homework

This contextual exception also applies to some verbs for which there are exceptions to this tense.

2. Verbs that express the action of the senses. Hear, see, feel, smell, taste (hear, see, feel, smell, like) are verbs that do not admit the present perfect continuous tense. There are some actions that are not action of the senses, but activities that involve using one of the senses. These actions do admit the present perfect continuous tense. As an example of this, we can mention the verb to see: the in the sense of the action of the sense of sight, see, does not admit the present perfect continuous. The action of seeing or observing something, watch, can be applied to the present perfect continuous:

I have been watching you

Your son has been watching TV all day long

3. Verbs that express possession: own, belong, have, possesses.

4. Verbs that express a state or way of being: to be (to be), to seem (to seem), need (to need), care (to import), exist (to exist).

15 examples of sentences in present perfect continuous in English:

All the kids have been enjoying the party.

Since a few weeks ago, I have been thinking how to build an airplane.

They have been looking for a new car.

We have been studying hard this semester.

Susan has been washing her clothes on Saturday.

My cousin hasn't been nursing the baby.

Ann has been traveling all around the world.

You have been repairing that iron since Friday.

I have been playing piano since I was three.

Has Steve been buying books?

Have you been going to school every day?

That man has been reading the newspaper since two hours ago.

He lies. He hasn't been sweeping the street.

I have been writing too much.

We haven't been waiting for the bus.