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Present Perfect Continuous

The document explains the use of present perfect tense, highlighting its connection to past actions and their relevance to the present. It distinguishes between present perfect simple and continuous forms, providing examples for both positive and negative statements, as well as questions. Additionally, it notes the importance of avoiding state verbs in continuous forms.

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3 views

Present Perfect Continuous

The document explains the use of present perfect tense, highlighting its connection to past actions and their relevance to the present. It distinguishes between present perfect simple and continuous forms, providing examples for both positive and negative statements, as well as questions. Additionally, it notes the importance of avoiding state verbs in continuous forms.

Uploaded by

Anonymous Au6mfuth
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Meaning - Summary

Reminder
Connecting the present and the past
We use present perfect when talking about situation or actions that started in the
past and are connected to the present.

Example
Present perfect | Unfinished actions
...I've read that report you sent me about MegaTech... (I finished reading it)
...I've been reading that too... (I started, but did not finish reading it).
Present perfect simple is often used to describe actions and situations that
finished in the past, but have a result in the present.
Present perfect continuous is often used to describe actions and situations that
started in the past, but are incomplete.

Example
Present perfect | Describing duration and quantity
I’ve sent about 20 emails today...
I've been phoning clients for 5 hours...
Present perfect simple + quantity is often used when saying "how many" of
something have been completed.
Present perfect continuous + time is often used to when saying "how long"
something has taken.

Example
Present perfect | Describing permanent or temporary situations
I've been here for 5 years.
Sara's been working from home (this week).
Present perfect simple + time is used to talk about situations that are seen as
permanent or long-term.
Present perfect continuous is often used to describe temporary situations.
Form - Summary
Example
Present perfect continuous form | Positive statements

 I've been trying to find you all morning!

 He's just been working here during his Erasmus year.

 Can you call Jack first? Nadia's only been waiting a few minutes.

Subject + has/have + been + verb(+in

I
You
have / 've been working
We
They

Anna
He
has / 's been living
She
It

Contracted forms are used when speaking and writing informally.


Use "just" or "only" before "been" to show you are talking about a short period of
time.

Example
Present perfect continuous form | Negative statements

 I've not been studying English for long.

 My laptop's not been working very well today.

 We haven't been meeting customers today.

subject + have / has + not + been + verb(+in

I have not been phoning


subject + have / has + not + been + verb(+in

You
We
They

Jack
He has not been applying
She

Important
Negative contractions
It is possible to contract negative statements in 2 ways:
subject + have/has
I've not been studying English for long.
She's not been studying English for long.
have/has + not
We haven't been meeting customers today.
He hasn't been feeling well.
But it is not possible to use both contractions in the same clause.

Example
Present perfect continuous form | Questions

 Where have you been sitting?

 Which desk have you been using today?

 Has Louise been making an effort?

question word + have / has + subject + been + ve

I
you
Have been w
we
they
question word + have / has + subject + been + ve

Jack
he
Where has been s
she
it

When replying to direct questions use a short form answer (not a full present
perfect continuous statement). For example:
Positive reply

 Yes, I/you/we/they have.

 Yes, Nadia/he/she/it has.

Negative reply

 No, I/you/we/they haven't.

 No, Nadia/he/she/it hasn't.

Reminder
Don't use state verbs!
There is a group of verbs that are not (usually) used with continuous forms.
They describe:

 thoughts: believe, realise

 emotions: love, detest

 senses: hear, see

 states of being: have, be (to exist)

They are called state verbs. We normally use present perfect simple (not present
perfect continuous) when using these verbs.

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