Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Uses of Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Use Case 1
We use Present Perfect Continuous to talk about a situation or activity that started in the past and has been in progress for a period until now (to showcase how long something has been in progress).
Sometimes we use some time-period reference along with present perfect continuous (e.g. since and for):
He has been living in Melbourne for over a decade now. (notice the use of ‘for’)
This company has been running since 1983. (notice the use of ‘since’)
Use Case 2
We use Present Perfect Continuous for an activity that is still ongoing or has recently stopped (i.e. there is a connection with now).
I have been talking to the lawyers about this defamation case. (still going on)
Have you been jogging? (recently stopped)
We don’t use the Present Perfect Continuous for situations or actions that finished at a particular point in time before now (i.e. those that did not finish recently).
I have been reading until midnight last night. (incorrect – wrong usage of present perfect continuous tense)
I was reading until midnight last night. (correct)
He has been putting off the decision for long, but eventually he resigned. (incorrect – wrong usage of present perfect continuous tense)
He put off the decision for long, but eventually he resigned. (correct)
Use Case 3
We use Present Perfect Continuous for actions repeated over a period of time.
Pakistan violates LOC again and again. It has been going on there for years.
Different Sentence structures of the Present Perfect Continuous tense
We use the following helping verbs in present perfect continuous tense (depending on person and number of subject):
Structure of Declarative sentences
Affirmative Declarative Sentences
Pattern: Subject + has/have + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/since + time
Aanya has been playing badminton for a long time.
They have been playing badminton for a long time.
Negative Declarative Sentences
Pattern: Subject + has/have + not been + $V_4$ + Object + for/since + time
Aanya has not been playing badminton for a long time.
They have not been playing badminton for a long time.
Structure of Interrogative sentences
Affirmative Interrogative Sentences
Pattern 1: Has/Have + Subject + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/since + time?
Has Aanya been playing badminton for a long time?
Have they been playing badminton for a long time?
Pattern 2: Wh. family + has/have + Subject + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/since + time?
Where has Aanya been playing badminton since last year?
Where have they been playing badminton since last year?
Negative Interrogative Sentences:
Pattern 1: Has/Have + Subject + not + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/since + time?
Has Aanya not been playing badminton since 2019?
Have they not been playing badminton since 2019?
Pattern 2: Wh. family + has/have + Subject + not + been + $V_4$ + Object + for/since + time?
Why has Aanya not been playing badminton since 2019?
Why have they not been playing badminton since 2019?
Use of for and since
‘For’ is used for a period of time, while ‘Since’ is used for a point of time.
Consider an example:
I have been playing since an hour. (incorrect)
I have been playing for an hour. (correct)
Here period of time is given (an hour), so we will use ‘for’ and not ‘since’.
Extra Books and Tools
If you prefer to learn via books, or want some good English Grammar books for reference purposes, you may read this article which enlists some of the books recommended by us.