The present perfect continuous tense is also known as the present perfect progressive tense. We use the present perfect continuous tense to describe actions that have been started in the past and stopped recently, or some past actions which are still continuing. The words “for” and “since” are often used with these sentences.
subject + has/have been + v1 (ing)
AFFIRMATIVE FORM
- Past actions which are still continuing
Example:
- You have been waiting here for two hours (Still you are waiting).
- I have been studying since this morning. (Still I am studying).
- Past actions which have been recently stopped (There is usually a result now).
Example:
- I’m tired because I have been running in the morning.
- She is so tired because She has been dancing.
We use “for” to talk about a period of time: such as two hours, two weeks, two months, or one decade.
We use “since” to talk about some point of time in the past: such as 6’o clock, Monday, last month, last week, or 21st of March.
NEGATIVE FORM
subject + has/have + not + been + v1 (ing)
Example:
- I have not been writing the letter / I haven’t been writing the letter.
- You have not been playing cricket / You haven’t been playing cricket.
- We have not been practicing / We haven’t been practicing.
- She has not been studying / She hasn’t been studying.
- He has not been teaching / He hasn’t been teaching.
INTERROGATIVE FORM
has/have + subject + been + V1(ing)
Examples:
- Have I been playing?
- Have they been reading?
- Have you been working?
- Has she been crying?
- Has he been fighting?
