PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

The present perfect continuous (also called present perfect progressive) is a verb tense
which is used to show that an action started in the past and has continued up to the present
moment. The present perfect continuous usually emphasizes duration, or the amount of
time that an action has been taking place. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and
present perfect continuous exercises.

(+) S + auxiliary (has/have) + been + Ving + O

You have been waiting here for two hours.
.

(-) S + auxiliary + not + been + Ving + O

You have not been waiting here for two hours.

(?) Auxiliary + S + been + Ving + O?

Have you been waiting here for two hours?

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the present perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and has
continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all
durations which can be used with the present perfect continuous.

Examples:

● They have been talking for the last hour.

● She has been working at that company for three years.
● What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
● James has been teaching at the university since June.
● We have been waiting here for over two hours!
● Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the present perfect continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two
weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often
use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.

Examples:

● Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

● She has been watching too much television lately.
● Have you been exercising lately?
● Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
● Lisa has not been practicing her English.
● What have you been doing?

Exercises

Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

Robin: I think the waiter has forgotten_______________(forget) us. We have been waiting
________________(wait) here for over half an hour and nobody has taken
__________________(take) our order yet.

Michele: I think you're right. He has walked _____________________(walk) by us at least twenty

times. He probably thinks we have already orderred __________________ (order, already) .

Robin: Look at that couple over there, they have only been_____________________(be, only)
here for five or ten minutes and they already have their food.

Michele: He must realize we have not orderred__________________ (order, not) yet! We have
been sitting________________(sit) here for over half an hour staring at him.

Robin: I don't know if he has even noticed__________________ (notice, even) us. He has been
running_________________(run) from table to table taking orders and serving food.

Michele: That's true, and he has not looked_______________ (look, not) in our direction once.

Present Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous

1. It has benn rainning_______________(rain) all week. I hope it stops by Saturday because I

want to go to the beach.

2. Sid: Where is Gary?

Sarah: He is studying at the libraby_________________(study, at the library) for his German
test on Wednesday. In fact, he has been reviewing____________________(review) for the test
every day for the last week.
3. You look really great! Have you been exerciseing_____________ (You, exercise) at the
fitness center ?

4. Frank, where have you been? ___________________We have been watting (wait) for you
since 1 PM.

5. Tim: What is that sound?

Nancy: A car alarm is ringing___________ (ring) somewhere down the street. It IS
driving_____________(drive) me crazy - I wish it would stop! It has been ringing
________________(ring) for more than twenty minutes.

6. Joseph's English it really improving ______________ (improve, really) , isn't it? He has been
warching_____________ (watch) American television programs and has been
studying________________ (study) his grammar every day since he first arrived in San Diego.
Soon he will be totally fluent.

7. Dan: You look a little tired. Have you been getting__________________ (You, get) enough
sleep lately?
Michelle: Yes, I am sleeping _______________(sleep) relatively well. I just look tired because I
has been feeling__________________(feel) a little sick for the last week.
Dan: I hope you feel better soon.
Michelle: Thanks. I am currently taking _____________::: (take, currently) some medicine, so I
should feel better in a couple of days.

Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

1. Judy: How long have you been _______________(be) in Canada?

Claude: I have been studying_______________(study) here for more than three years.

2. I have had__________________ (have) the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking
about buying a new one.

3. I have loved___________________(love) chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me
a "chocoholic."

4. Matt and Sarah have been having___________________ (have) some difficulties in their
relationship lately, so they have been going______________________ (go) to a marriage
counselor. I hope they work everything out.

5. John has been working _________________(work) for the government since he graduated
from Harvard University. Until recently, he has been enjoying_________________ (enjoy) his
work, but now he is talking about retiring.

6. Lately, I have been tinking(_______________think) about changing my career because I have

been becoming_______________(become) dissatisfied with the conditions at my company.

7. I have been seeing ____________(see) Judy for more than five years and during that time I
have seen ________________ (see) many changes in her personality.