Present Perfect

Continuous
Present Perfect Progressive
 When to use?
Present Perfect Progressive expresses:
• Action that begins in the past and lasts until a present moment;
• Action or a new habit, that has been happening lately
The timing of this action is not specified, instead, the result or process of the
action is emphasized.
 An action that started in the past, and
continued up until the present:

She has been reading for the

last 2 hours.

He has been sitting under the

desk for the last hour.

Example He has been talking on his

mobile since he got here.

He has been working in our

hotel since 2005.

He is exhausted because he has

been running around all day.
 New habit or action that has
been happening lately:
Lately, she has been playing
really well.

She has been working a lot

recently.

Example He has been having difficulty

writing.

Recently, he has been getting

into too much trouble.

I have been feeling better

lately.
 Example
Ruth and Martha are best friends. They have been
spending time together since they were young girls.
Every morning, they get dressed and walk to the post
office together. They have been walking together to the
post office every morning for the past 10 years.

Lately, Martha has not been feeling well. Ruth has been
walking to the post office alone each morning. Then she
visits Martha at home. She has been bringing Martha her
mail every morning for 2 weeks. She hopes Martha feels
better soon.
 How to form
Have been
Verb+ing
Has been

  POSITIVE NEGATIVE QUESTION

I have
I/you/we/they I have not been speaking Have I been speaking?
been speaking

he has been
he/she/it he has not been speaking Has he been speaking?
speaking
 Long Form Contraction Example
have …’ve they’ve

Contracted have not …’ve not/… haven’t

I’ve not/I
haven’t
Forms: has …’s she’s

he’s not/he
has not …’s not/… hasn’t
hasn’t
 How to form “Wh” questions?
Subject Question:
Form of the question is similar to the form of
a statement: Wh question word + have
been/has been + -ing form.
Brad Smith has been reporting the news.
Who has been reporting the news?
Something unusual has been happening
lately.
What has been happening lately?
Any Other Part:
Question word + the auxiliary verb
have/has + subject + be (been), and the -ing
form of the main verb.
Many people have been going to the
carnival.
Where have many people been going?
You have been looking at something.
What have you been looking at?
 Up to now Recently

for lately

Signal since
Words
all morning

all day
 Present Perfect Simple focuses on
the result, while Present Perfect
Present Progressive focuses on the activity:
Perfect or • They've been waiting for hours! (This
emphasises the length of time).
Present • They've waited for hours and finally left.
Perfect (This emphasises the final result/activity).

Progressive The present perfect continuous can

be used to emphasize that
? something is temporary:
• She's been running a lot recently. (She
doesn't usually do this).
 The present perfect simple is often used
when we're talking about how much or
how many. This isn't possible with the
Present present perfect continuous:
Perfect or • She's drunk three cups of coffee this morning.
• She's drunk at least a liter of coffee today.
Present • (NOT: she's been drinking three cups of coffee this
morning).
Perfect
Progressive We use 'yet' and 'already' with the
present perfect simple:
?
• Have you read the book yet?
• She's finished her work already.
 Present Perfect or Present Perfect
Progressive?
PRESENT PERFECT Focuses on the result: You have cleaned your room, it looks tidy!
SIMPLE

Says how many or how much: She has read ten books this summer.

Describes completed action: I have sent you a text message.

Describes situation or state, that began in the past and still continues: We have known each
other for ten years.
PRESENT PERFECT Focuses on the activity: I have been gardening. I am exhausted now.
PROGRESSIVE

Says "how long: She has been reading that book all day.

Describes incomplete action: I have been writing wedding invitations since morning.

Describes new habits and temporary actions: Usually, I study at home, but I have been studying
at the library this week.
 Any
Questions?