Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) Tense

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense, also known as Present Perfect Progressive Tense, is used to talk about an action or actions that started in the past and continued up until now. We can use it to refer to an action that has finished but you can still see evidence. It can refer to an action that has not finished. Time reference is found in the sentences of this tense which gives an idea that action has continued from some time in past and continue till now. For example, "He has been sleeping for five hours", it means that he has slept five hours ago and he is still sleeping.

Rules: Helping verbs "has been" or "have been" are used in sentence. 1st form of verb+ing is used as main verb in sentence. "since" or "for" is used before the "time reference" in sentence. If reference is made to point of time such as 2002, 7 O'clock then "since" is used before the time in sentence. If the reference is made to period of time such as three hours, six years, four days, then "for" is used before the time in sentence.

Structure of Sentence

Positive Sentence

• Subject + helping verbs ("has been" or "have been") + (1st form of verb+ing) + object + time reference

• If the subject is "he, she, it, or singular noun" then helping verbs "has been" are used.
• If the subject is "they, we, you, I or plural noun" then helping verbs "have been" are used.

Examples

1. She has been singing for ten years.
2. We have been studying since 1 O' clock.

Negative Sentence

• Subject + ("has not been" or "have not been") + (1st form of verb+ing) + object + time reference

• "not" is added between helping verbs "has been" or "have been" so it becomes "has not been" or "have not been".
• In negative sentences, other rules for using helping verb (has or have) are same as mentioned above in positive sentences.

Examples

1. She has not been singing for ten years.
2. We have not been studying since 1 O' clock.

Interrogative Sentence

• Helping verb ("Has" or "Have") + subject + helping verb ("been") + (1st form of verb+ing) + Object + time reference

• Helping verb "Has" or "Have" is placed at the beginning of sentence.
• Rules for using helping verb "has" or "have" are the same as mentioned above in positive sentences.

Examples

1. Has she been singing for ten years?
2. Have we been studying since 1 O' clock?
3. What have you been eating for one hour?

• The words "what, where, when, how, etc." will be used before "has" or "have" in such kind of interrogative sentences.

Interrogative Negative Sentence

• Helping verb ("Has" or "Have") + subject + not + helping verb ("been") + (1st form of verb+ing) + object + time reference

• In Present Perfect Continuous Tense, interrogative negative sentences are just like interrogative affirmative sentences with only use of "not" after subject.

Examples

1. Has she not been singing for ten years?
2. Have we not been studying since 1 O' clock?

Rule: Must put Question Mark (?) in the end of interrogative and interrogative negative sentences.

More Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Positive Sentences

1. It has been raining since morning.
2. He has been playing hockey for two hours.
3. She has been cooking in this hotel for many months.
4. They have been watching movies for many hours.
5. We have been living here since 1998.
6. You have been eating for two hours.
7. I have been teaching since 2002.

Negative Sentences

1. It has not been raining since morning.
2. He has not been playing hockey for two hours.
3. She has not been cooking in this hotel for many months.
4. They have not been watching movies for many hours.
5. We have not been living here since 1998.
6. You have not been eating for two hours.
7. I have not been teaching since 2002.

Interrogative Sentences

1. Has it been raining since morning?
2. Has he been playing hockey for two hours?
3. Has she been cooking in this hotel for many months?
4. Have they been watching movies for many hours?
5. Have we been living here since 1998?
6. Have you not been eating for two hours?
7. Have I been teaching since 2002?
8. Where has he been playing cricket for many hours?

Interrogative Negative Sentences

1. Has it not been raining since morning?
2. Has he not been playing hockey for two hours?
3. Has she not been cooking in this hotel for many months?
4. Have they not been watching movies for many hours?
5. Have we not been living here since 1998?
6. Have you not been eating for two hours?
7. Have I not been teaching since 2002?

1. Present Simple (Indefinite) Tense
2. Present Continuous Tense
3. Present Perfect Tense
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

5. Past Simple (Indefinite) Tense
6. Past Continuous Tense
7. Past Perfect Tense
8. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

9. Future Indefinite (Simple) Tense
10. Future Continuous Tense
11. Future Perfect Tense
12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

1. How Many Tenses in English
2. The Sequence of Tenses