Present Perfect Continuous Tense : Definition, Useful Examples & Excercise

Present perfect continuous in English and present perfect continuous examples. Learn the definition and how to form the present perfect continuous tense with useful examples and ESL printable infographics.

Contents

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Definition

In the present perfect continuous tense, the action has been taking place for some time and is still ongoing. The duration for which the action has been going on is usually mentioned in the present perfect continuous tense.

Forming the Present Perfect Continuous

Positive Statements | Present Perfect Continuous

SUBJECT	HAVE BEEN/ HAS BEEN	VERB + ing	REST OF THE SENTENCE
I	have been	waiting	for an hour.
You	have been	waiting	for an hour.
He	has been	waiting	for an hour.
Tom	has been	waiting	for an hour.
The boy	has been	waiting	for an hour.
She	has been	waiting	for an hour.
Anna	has been	waiting	for an hour.
The girl	has been	waiting	for an hour.
We	have been	waiting	for an hour.
You	have been	waiting	for an hour.
They	have been	waiting	for an hour.
The children	have been	waiting	for an hour.

Notice that we use:

‘have been’ with the subjects ‘I’, ‘You’, ‘We’ and ‘They’
‘has been’ with the subjects ‘He’ and ‘She’

The verb form remains the same for all subjects.

Negative Statements | Present Perfect Continuous

SUBJECT	HAVE NOT BEEN / HAS NOT BEEN	VERB + ing	REST OF THE SENTENCE
I	have not been	living	in Paris since March.
You	have not been	living	in Paris since March.
He	has not been	living	in Paris since March.
Tom	has not been	living	in Paris since March.
The boy	has not been	living	in Paris since March.
She	has not been	living	in Paris since March.
Anna	has not been	living	in Paris since March.
The girl	has not been	living	in Paris since March.
We	have not been	living	in Paris since March.
You	have not been	living	in Paris since March.
They	have not been	living	in Paris since March.
The children	have not been	living	in Paris since March.

Notice that we use:

‘have not been’ with the subjects ‘I’, ‘You’, ‘We’ and ‘They’
‘has not been’ with the subjects ‘He’ and ‘She’

The verb form remains the same for all subjects.

Interrogative Statements / Questions | Present Perfect Continuous

HAVE / HAS	SUBJECT	BEEN	VERB + ing	REST OF THE SENTENCE
Have	I	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Have	you	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Has	he	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Has	Tom	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Has	the boy	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Has	she	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Has	Anna	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Has	the girl	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Have	we	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Have	you	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Have	they	been	working	hard for the last three days?
Have	the men	been	working	hard for the last three days?