Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Sakshi Education

We have talked about an action that has taken place somewhere in the past and but with unspecified time.
Look at the sentences
I have read this book many times/ twice. (Unspecified time)

He has been here for ten years. He has been here since June.	Action started in the past and may continue in future Present perfect tense
He has been living here for ten years. He has been living here since June.	Action started in the past and may continue in Future. (Present perfect continuous)

We use present perfect continuous to talk about an action or event that started in the past and is still happening now.

It has been raining since 8 o’ clock.
He has been dancing for an hour.
You have been getting late to the class recently.

Structure
Has been/ have been + verb+ ing

2000 2010
E.g. I have been living in Vizag since 2000. (Action started at a particular point of time in the past and is being continued to the present moment)

Present perfect tense conveys both specified and unspecified time.
Examples:

We have been writing exams since Monday.( Monday is point of starting)
We have been writing exams for a week. ( week is period of time from beginning to the moment of speaking)

Since is used to mention the point of time and ‘for’ is used for period of time.

Examples:

We have been learning grammar since a week.( wrong)
They have been working on the project all day.( they are still working)

It is also used for an action started in the past and completed with this minute

I have been looking for you for the last half an hour. ( the action is completed just at the moment of speaking.
It has been raining. Now the ground is wet. (the rain has stopped just now)

Difference between Present continuous and present perfect continuous

I’m driving the car. (still going on and time is not mentioned)
I have been driving the car. ( still going on and the action shows relation with some other)
I have been driving the car since an hour.( beginning is mentioned)

Asking questions
Where have you been?
How long have you been learning English?
How long has it been raining?

Practice
Fill in the blank with right word/ verb