Also called the present perfect progressive
Click here to download this explanation as a pdf
Learn about USING the present perfect continuous here
How to form the present perfect continuous
It's not a very common tense, and often it's not taught in classes, but we do use it sometimes and it's very good to know how to make it, and to recognise it when other people use it.
Luckily, it's very easy to make. Here's the positive (it's the present perfect of 'be' + verb -ing):
| Positive | Positive Short Form |
| I have been walking | I've been walking |
| you have been running | you've been running |
| he has been cooking | he's been cooking |
| she has been swimming | she's been swimming |
| it has been raining | it's been raining |
| we have been studying | we've been studying |
| they have been sleeping | they've been sleeping |
To make the negative, just add 'not':
| Negative | Negative Short Form |
| I have not been walking | I haven't been walking |
| you have not been running | you haven't been running |
| he has not been cooking | he hasn't been cooking |
| she has not been swimming | she hasn't been swimming |
| it has not been raining | it hasn't been raining |
| we have not been studying | we haven't been studying |
| they have not been sleeping | they haven't been sleeping |
Try making the positive and negative forms here
Can you guess how to make the question form of the present perfect continuous? It's not very difficult - just put 'have' or 'has' before the subject:
| 'Yes / No' Questions |
| have I been walking? |
| have you been running? |
| has he been cooking? |
| has she been swimming? |
| has it been raining? |
| have we been studying? |
| have they been sleeping? |
For 'wh' questions put the question word first:
| 'Yes / No' Questions |
| what have I been doing? |
| where have you been running? |
| what has he been studying? |
| why has she been working today? |
| how long has it been raining? |
| how long have we been watching this film? |
| how long have they been living here? |
Here's an exercise about questions
- Here's an exercise about the present perfect simple or continuous
- Here's another exercise about the present perfect simple or continuous
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