Present Perfect Continous Tense | Basic Grammar for IELTS PDF Download

Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Definition, Formula & Examples

The present perfect continuous tense, also known as the present perfect progressive, is used to describe an ongoing activity that started in the past and has either just ended or is still happening now. While only a small percentage of verbs in spoken language are in this tense, it can be very useful in various situations.

Continue reading to learn how to form the present perfect continuous tense, when to use it, and see numerous examples and specifics!

Table of Content

What is the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

• The present perfect continuous tense, or present perfect progressive, describes ongoing actions that started in the past and continue into the present.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Definition

• This tense is used to show actions that began in the past, are still ongoing, and may continue into the future.

Structure of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• The structure of this tense involves "has/have been" + present participle (-ing form of the verb).

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Formula

• To form this tense, use "subject + has/have been + present participle of the main verb."

Rules for Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• Use this tense to emphasize the duration of an action that began in the past and is still relevant now.

Purpose of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• This tense helps convey that an action started in the past and is continuing into the present.

Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• She has been waiting for the bus for over an hour.
• We have been studying English for five years.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Exercise

• Construct sentences using the present perfect continuous tense to practice your understanding of this grammatical structure.

• What is the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense Definition
• Structure of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense Formula
• Rules for Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• Purpose of Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense Exercise

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is a tense used to describe an activity that started in the past and has persisted or continued until the current instant. It is also known as the "continuous" form of the Present Perfect Tense. The auxiliary word "has been" or "have been" plus the present participle is used in this construction.

• Lately, I've been winding down in a nearby park after a long day.
Lately, I've been winding down in a nearby park after a long day.
• To improve his productivity, he has been arranging his worksheet daily.
To improve his productivity, he has been arranging his worksheet daily.
• To get ready for the nuptials, we've been taking dance classes.
To get ready for the nuptials, we've taking dance classes.
• The group has been engaged in cleaning up the neighborhood.
The group engaged in cleaning up the neighborhood.
• To update the screenplay, Susan has been hard at work.
To update the screenplay, Susan has been hard at work.

The "present perfect continuous tense" is a tense that is used to "talk about an action or activity that started in the past and continues now or has only just stopped," according to the Oxford Learner's Dictionary.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Overview

• The Present Perfect Continuous Tense describes actions that started in the past and are still happening.
• It uses the auxiliary verbs "has been" or "have been" followed by the present participle.

Structure and Formula

• The structure involves 'has/have been' + present participle.
• Formula: Subject + has/have been + present participle.

Rules and Usage

• It is used to emphasize the ongoing nature of an action.
• It is often used with time expressions like 'lately,' 'recently,' or 'for a while.'

Examples and Exercises

• Example: She has been studying for two hours.
• Exercise: Rewrite the following sentence in the present perfect continuous tense.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and are still ongoing or have just recently finished.

Types of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• Affirmative or Positive: Describes actions that have been happening continuously.
• Negative: Describes actions that have not been happening continuously.
• Interrogative: Used to ask questions about actions that have been ongoing.

Structure of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The present perfect continuous tense is formed by using the structure mentioned above.

Usage of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• It is used to indicate the duration of an activity that started in the past and continues until now.
• We often use "for" and "since" to specify the duration of the action.
• This tense is suitable for actions that started recently and are still ongoing.
• Non-continuous verbs and certain blended verbs are not used in the continuous tenses.

Overall, the present perfect continuous tense helps us convey ongoing actions that started in the past and are relevant to the present moment.

Understanding the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

It is possible to talk about activities that started very recently in the past using the present perfect continuous tense. We cannot use non-continuous verbs with various continuous tenses. Similarly, we avoid using mixed verbs that have specific meanings that are not continuous; in such cases, we should use the present perfect tense.

Formation of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

This tense is formed by combining the present participle (the verb form ending in -ing) with the auxiliary verb "have been." Additional time-related information can be included to specify when the activity took place, such as "two hours ago" or "last Fall."

• Verbs that are commonly used in present perfect continuous forms typically describe:
• an ongoing activity
• a continuing process
• a physical sensation
• a transitional event
• a brief occurrence

Dynamic verbs are frequently used with present perfect continuous forms to indicate ongoing actions or states. In contrast, stative verbs, which describe finished or unchanging states, are not commonly used in this tense.

Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense in Use

• Since midday, the young man has been waiting by the entrance.
• She has been watching TV for the past four hours.
• The young lady has been hanging around since the morning, waiting for her friend.
• I started learning three hours ago.
• He has played football for quite some time.
• The doctor began seeing the patient less than an hour ago.
• He has lived in Japan for the past three years.
• I stopped taking my medicine last week.
• They have been playing football for an hour.

Understanding Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Practice Exercises

Answers-

Further Reading

Also Read:

• What is Tense? Types, Definitions & Examples
• Difference Between Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous
• Present Continuous Tense – Meaning, Definition, Rules, Uses with Examples
• Present Perfect Tense: Definition, Rules, Examples, Structure

Present Perfect Continuous Tense- FAQs

What is the Meaning of Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

The present perfect continuous tense, also called the present perfect progressive tense, shows that something started in the past and is still happening now. This tense is formed by using "has been" or "have been" along with the present participle (root + ing).

What is the Definition of Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

The present perfect continuous tense, known as the present perfect progressive tense, is used to express that an action or state began in the past and is ongoing in the present. It is formed by using "has been" or "have been" with the present participle (root + ing).

What are the rules to be followed when using the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

• The present perfect continuous tense, also known as the present perfect progressive tense, is used to convey the idea that a specific action or state of being started in the past and is still ongoing at the current time.
• To form the present perfect continuous tense, use the structure "has been" or "have been" combined with the present participle (root + ing).

What is the formula of Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

• Use the construction "has been" or "have been" in combination with the present participle (root + ing) to create the present perfect continuous tense.

Give some examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

• For the past hour, I have not been observing a cricket contest.
• Have you been preparing to work on the project for the last 2 hours?
• It's been an hour since I started assisting him with the job.
• It's been three hours since my mum started cooking.
• It has been an hour since I started viewing the performance.

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• English Tenses
• Grammar
• English
• SSC/Banking

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