The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and has continued up to the present moment and may also continue in the future. Here the emphasis is on the idea of continuity.
The present perfect can also be used to talk about an action that started in the past and has continued up to the present. The present perfect focuses more on the idea of completion.
Study the examples given below.
- I have been writing letters since morning. (Present perfect continuous tense)
- I have written eight letters so far. (Present perfect tense)
More examples are given below.
- My hands are dirty. I have been working in the garden.
- I have pruned the hedges and planted some saplings.
- You have been working too hard. You should take a break.
- He has worked really hard to reach where he is today.
- She has been looking for a job since she left college last year.
- Has she found a job yet?
- I have been learning Hindi for a while. However, I haven’t learnt much yet.
- I have been painting the house. I have painted three rooms so far.
- You have been eating a lot. You should eat less.
- Somebody has eaten all the cookies.
- She has been acting since she was three years old. She has won several awards.
Some verbs are not normally used in the continuous form. Examples are: know, like, believe etc.
- I have known him for a long time. (NOT I have been knowing him ….)
In some situations, we can use either the present perfect or the present perfect continuous tense.
- He has been working in this office for six years. OR He has worked in this office for six years.
- The temple has stood on the hill for 600 years. OR The temple has been standing on the hill for 600 years.
Use the present perfect or the present perfect continuous tense with the time expressions since and for.
- He has been waiting for hours. (NOT He is waiting for hours.)
- It hasn’t stopped raining since morning. (NOT It didn’t stop raining since morning.)
- I have known him since my school days. (NOT I know him since my school days.)
Use since with the starting point.
- The suspect has been absconding since January.
Use for to show duration.
- The suspect has been absconding for six months.
Sometimes we write a clause after since. In this case, use a simple past in the since-clause.
- What have you been doing since you left college? (NOT What have you been doing since you have left college?)
Worksheet
For each situation, ask a question using the words given in the brackets.
1. You have a friend learning classical music. You ask: (how long / learn / classical music)
2. You arranged to meet a friend at 10 am. You were late. You friend was waiting. When you meet, you ask: (wait / long)
3. You find somebody foraging for mushrooms. You ask: (find / any mushrooms)
4. A friend of yours is a lawyer. You ask: (how long / practice)
5. You meet a singer who has won many awards. You ask: (how many awards / win)
6. A friend of yours is saving money to buy a car. You ask: (how long / save) (how much money / save)
Answers
1. How long have you been learning classical music?
2. Have you been waiting for long?
3. Have you found any mushrooms?
4. How long have you been practicing as a lawyer?
5. How many awards have you won?
6. How long have you been saving money? / How much money have you saved?
