Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Definition, Examples, Formula, Structure & Rules

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present perfect continuous tense expresses the action which is occurred in the past, and they proceed in the current situation or maybe in the future. It is also known as Present Perfect Progressive Tense

It is a combination of two tenses, the present continuous and the present perfect tense.

In the present perfect continuous tense, we can use two helping verbs with the main Verb, also use for and since to show the exact time and a specific point of action.

Formula Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Subject + (have/has) + been + verb(Ving) + object

Here, “been” is added with the modal verbs (have/has), and Verb (ing) is in the present participle form of the Verb. 

To describe time duration in the past, for is used and to describe a point in past timesince it is used in a sentence.

“Have” can be used with the second person like he, she, it, respectively.
And “has”  can be used for the first person as well as the third person like I, you, we, they, respectively.

present perfect continuous tense

For example
I have been working on this project for the last two years.

Sentence Structure & Rules

There are three possibilities of writing any sentence or a statement in present perfect continuous tense form,

  1. Positive statements
    [Subject + have/has + been + verb (ing) + object] 
  2. Negative statements
    [Subject + have/has + not + been + verb (ing) + object]
  3. Yes/no type or Interrogative question statements
    [Have/has + subject + been + verb (ing) + object + ?]

Examples of Present Perfect Continuous

  1. I have been working on this since March. (positive) 
  2. I haven’t been working on this since March. (negative)
  3. Have I been working on this since March? (interrogative)
  1. She has been listening to songs for 30 minutes. (positive)
  2. She has not been listening to songs for 30 minutes. (negative)
  3. Has she been listening to songs for 30 minutes? (interrogative)
  1. We have been traveling to Japan for three months. (positive)
  2. We haven’t been traveling to Japan for three months. (negative)
  3. Have we been traveling to Japan for three months? (interrogative)
  1. They have been selecting the team for the tournament. (positive)
  2. They haven’t been selecting the team for the match. (negative)
  3. Have they been selecting the team for the match? (interrogative)

more examples of present perfect continuous

Present Perfect Continuous Exercises

Complete the following sentence by using the appropriate verbs to make it a present perfect continuous sentence.

  1. She _________ for four hours. (study)
  2. He _________ a lie. (tel)
  3. We _________ to school for five years. (go)
  4. I ___________ to learn the English language. (try)
  5. The Teacher ________ in the classroom. (teach)
  6. He __________ for three hours. (run)
  7. We ____________ to start a new business. (plan)
  8. My mobile ________ working since morning. (work)

Answers

  1. She has been studying for four hours.
  2. He has been telling a lie.
  3. We have been going to school for five years.
  4. I have been trying to learn the English language.
  5. The Teacher has been teaching in the classroom.
  6. He has been running for three hours.
  7. We have been planning to start a new business.
  8. My mobile has not been working since morning.

more exercises of present perfect continuous tense


More Tenses
1. Present Continuous Tense
2. Present Perfect Tense

present perfect continuous formula and examples