STUDY
AND
EXAM
.COM

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

This tense expresses an action that started at some point in past and has continued to the present time. It states an ongoing nature of an action that started in past and is still continued in the present. Therefore, a time-reference is given in the sentence to show when the action started in past or for how long the action is being continued. This time-reference distinguishes present perfect continuous tense from ordinary present continuous tense where the time of continuity of action is generally not specified. 

The specific words ‘since’ and ‘for' are used in the sentence to show the time of action.
  • If the exact starting time of the action (e.g., Monday, 3 P.M) is known, the word ‘since’ is used before the time in the sentence.
  • If the exact starting time of an action is not known but only the duration of time for which the action is being continued (e.g., three hours, five months, four years) is known, the word ‘for’ is used.

Structure of Sentence.

Main verb: 1st form of verb + ing, (Present participle) e.g., eating, buying, going.
Helping verb: Has been / Have been.

If the subject of the sentence is he, she, it, or a singular noun, then ‘has been’ is used.
If the subject is I, we, you, they or a plural noun, then ‘have been’ is used.

   POSITIVE SENTENCES:

 Subject + helping verb + main verb + since/for + time
 Subject + has been/have been + (1st form of verb+ing) + since/for + time

Examples:

He has been working in a factory since 2016.
She has been teaching kids for three years.
He has been living in London since 10th January 2018.
She has been using her car for ten months.
He has been reading this book since Monday.
We have been decorating our house for four days.
I have been waiting for you since 8 AM.
They have been playing football for three hours.
She has been washing her clothes since morning.
They have been watching a movie for two hours.
They have been studying in this college for seven months.
He has been eating the same food for three days.
They have been selling chairs for four years.
I have been writing a story since 25th June.
They have been helping poor people for eight months.
It has been raining for three hours.

   NEGATIVE SENTENCES:

In negative sentence, the word ‘not’ is added inside the helping verb making it as ‘has not been’ or ‘have not been’.

 Subject + helping verb + not + main verb + since / for + time
 Subject + has/have + not + been + (1st form of verb+ing) + since/for + time

Examples:

He has not been working in this factory since 2019.
She has not been eating fruits for three years.
They have not been playing football since 25th June 2018.
I have not been using my car for six months.
She has not been going to school since Monday.
He has not been sleeping for three days.
They have not been watching television since 10 AM.
The kids have not been playing games for five hours.
You have not been attending your lectures since 16th March.
He has not been living in America since 2018.
It has not been raining for five hours.

   INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES:

The question sentence starts with ‘has’ or ‘have’ and the word ‘been’ comes after the subject inside the sentence.

 Has/have + subject + been + (1st form of verb+ing) + since/for + time

Examples:

Has he been living in London since 2010?
Has she been teaching students for three years?
Has he been working in this factory since 20th February 2020? 
Has she been studying her books for three months?.
Have we been watching television since Sunday?
Have they been playing cricket for four days?
Has she been washing her clothes since morning?
Have they been waiting for me since 8 AM?
Have the kids been making a noise for one hour?
Have you been writing the report since Tuesday?
Have I been wasting my time for three days?
Has it been raining since morning?