Present Perfect Continuous Tense Form And Uses | C1-C2 Grammar

We make the present perfect continuous form by putting has / have + been before the present participle form of the verb.

• She has been learning English for six months.
• I have been waiting here for two hours.
• It has been raining since yesterday.
• The police have been searching for the suspect.
• The thief has been absconding since last week.
• She has been working here since January.

The present perfect continuous is used to talk about an action or situation that started in the past, has continued up to the present and may continue in future as well.

• The temple has been standing on that hill for over 600 years.
• My feet hurt. I have been standing all day.

Present continuous vs. Present perfect continuous

Fill in the blanks with the present continuous or present perfect continuous tense form of the verb.

1. She ………………….. currently …………………….. with her parents. (stay)
2. He ……………………………. (wait) outside for hours.
3. ‘You look tired.’ ‘Yes, I ……………………………. (work) all day.’
4. She …………………….. English. (learn)
5. How long …………………….. (you learn) English?
6. Where ……………………. (you go)?
7. What …………………… (you do) upstairs?
8. I …………………………. (clean) the attic all morning.
9. This …………………………… (go) on for a while.
10. They ………………………… (all wait) for us.

Answers

1. is staying, 2. has been waiting, 3. have been working, 4. is learning, 5. have you been learning, 6. are you going, 7. are you doing, 8. have been cleaning, 9. has been going, 10. are all waiting

Present perfect vs. Present perfect continuous tense

The present perfect is used to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and has continued up to the present.

It is also used to give news of recently finished events.

• I have just received a call from my brother.
• They have just arrived.
• He has worked with us for 15 years.

The present perfect continuous is also used to talk about actions or situations that started in the past and has continued up to the present.

The present perfect focuses on the idea on the completion whereas the present perfect continuous focuses on the idea of continuity.

1. You ………………………….. six cookies since morning. (have eaten / have been eating)
2. They …………………………………. already ………………………. (have left)
3. I ………………………… this story with great interest for a while. (have followed / have been following)
4. The boy …………………………………… since yesterday. (has missed / has been missing)
5. They …………………… just ………………….. the missing boy. (have found / have been finding)
6. We ………………………….. already ………………….. all the tourist destinations in Paris and we have been here for only two days. (have seen, have been seeing)
7. It is the first time I …………………………. them perform. (have seen / have been seeing)
8. I ……………………………. the question of whether I should accept this offer or not. (have not decided / have not been deciding)
9. I ………………………………. up all day and my feet really hurt. (have stood / have been standing)
10. I ………………………….. since morning. (have painted / have been painting)
11. I have already ……………………… two rooms. (painted / been painting)
12. It …………………………………….. raining since morning. (has not stopped / has not been stopping)

Answers

1. have eaten, 2. have already left, 3. have been following, 4. has been missing, 5. have found, 6. have seen, 7. have seen, 8. have not decided, 9. have been standing, 10. have been painting, 11. painted, 12. has not stopped