Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is also called the Present Perfect Progressive Tense.

This ten expresses an action that started at some point in the past and continues into the present. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of an activity and often includes a time reference to indicate when the action started or the duration for which it has been occurring. Therefore, a time reference is given in the sentences. The words ‘since’ and ‘for’ are commonly used to indicate time:

• Since is used when the exact starting time of the action is known (e.g., Monday, 3 P.M.).
• For is used when the exact starting time of an action is not known, but only the duration of the action is known (e.g., three hours, five months, four years).

Note: The time reference distinguishes the Present Perfect Continuous Tense from the ordinary Present Continuous Tense, which indicates an ongoing action but where the duration of the action is usually unspecified.

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’, use ‘has been’.
If the subject is ‘I, we, you, they or a plural noun’, use ‘have been’.

   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 forming ‘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?