Present Perfect Continuous in English

In this guide, we’ll explore what the Present Perfect Continuous tense is, how to form it, when to use it, and how it differs from the Present Perfect tense. We’ll also cover common mistakes and how to avoid them so you can feel confident when building sentences in this important tense.

Let’s get started!

What is the Present Perfect Continuous?

The Present Perfect Continuous is a tense we use to describe:

• Actions that started in the past and are still happening (I have been cooking for two hours.)
• Actions that recently stopped but have a present result (She has been running, so she is tired.)
• Repeated actions that happened over a period of time (They have been calling me all day.)

In short, this tense is useful when you want to emphasize the duration of an action or show that something has continued over time.

How to Form the Present Perfect Continuous

The Present Perfect Continuous is formed using:

1. The auxiliary verb "have" or "has" (depending on the subject)
2. The past participle of "be" (been)
3. The main verb with "-ing"

Here are some examples of sentences that use Present Perfect Continuous to help you better understand how this tense is used:

• She has been working at this company for five years.
• I have been reading this book since Monday.
• You’re out of breath! Have you been running?
• She has been crying, her eyes are red.
• He has been calling her every day this week.
• We have been practicing for the concert all month.

This structure helps indicate an action that started in the past and continues in the present, or has recently stopped but is still relevant.

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The Formula for the Present Perfect Continuous

The formulas to form the Present Perfect Continues are the following:

Affirmative sentences

[Subject] + have/has + been + verb (-ing)

Here are some examples:

• I have been learning English for two years.
• She has been waiting for the bus since 7 AM.
• They have been playing soccer all afternoon.

Negative sentences

[Subject] + have/has + not + been + verb (-ing)

For example:

• I haven’t been feeling well lately.
• He hasn’t been working since last month.
• We haven’t been studying much this week.

Question form:

Have/Has + [subject] + been + verb (-ing)?

These are some examples:

• Have you been exercising regularly?
• Has she been studying for her test?
• How long have they been waiting?
   

Difference Between the Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous

Many learners confuse the Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous because they both describe past actions with a connection to the present. However, there are key differences between them:

Examples of the difference:

• Present Perfect: I have written three emails today. (Focuses on completed actions—the emails are finished.)
• Present Perfect Continuous: I have been writing emails all morning. (Focuses on the duration—the activity has been ongoing.)
• Present Perfect: She has traveled to France three times. (The number of completed trips is important.)
• Present Perfect Continuous: She has been traveling around Europe for a month. (The focus is on the ongoing nature of her travels.)

By choosing the right tense, you can make your sentences clearer and more precise.

Common Mistakes with the Present Perfect Continuous

Here are some frequent errors learners make and how to fix them:

1. Using "been" with the Present Perfect (instead of Present Perfect Continuous): Always use "been" + verb (-ing) in the Present Perfect Continuous. In the Present Perfect the verb is used in the past participle and “been” is not used.

• Incorrect: I have been learned English for two years.
• Correct: I have been learning English for two years.

2. Forgetting to Use "for" and "since" correctly: Use "for" with a period of time (e.g., for three hours). Use "since" with a specific point in time (e.g., since 9 AM).

• Incorrect: I have been waiting since two hours.
• Correct: I have been waiting for two hours.
• Incorrect: She has been working on this project for Monday.
• Correct: She has been working on this project since Monday.

3. Using the wrong auxiliary verb: The correct auxiliary verbs to use in sentences in Present Perfect Continuous are "have" or "has," not "is."

• Incorrect: She is been studying for her exam.
• Correct: She has been studying for her exam.

4. Using Present Continuous Instead of Present Perfect Continuous: Remember that the Present Continuous tense is used for actions or events going on right now, while the Present Perfect Continuous is for actions that started in the past but are still going on in the present.

• Incorrect: I am practicing my English exercises for three hours.
• Correct: I have been practicing my English exercises for three hours.

Avoiding these mistakes will help you use the Present Perfect Continuous correctly, ensuring your communication in English is clear and natural.

Summary

The Present Perfect Continuous tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into the present or recently stopped but still have an effect. It emphasizes the duration of an action and is often used with "for" and "since" to indicate time.

To form this tense, use have/has + been + verb (-ing) (E.g. “The baby has been sleeping for 5 hours”). And be careful not to confuse it with the Present Perfect, which focuses on completed actions rather than ongoing ones.

By practicing regularly through the Promova app and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll be able to use the Present Perfect Continuous casually in conversations. Keep going, and soon it will feel easy!