Everything you need to use the present perfect continuous correctly: the formula, when to use it, signal words, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
Actions that began in the past and continue to now. Affirmative: S + have/has + been + V-ing; Negative: S + have/has + not + been + V-ing; Interrogative: Have/Has + S + been + V-ing? Signal words: for, since, all day/morning/week, how long, recently, lately.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | S + have/has + been + V-ing I/You/We/They + have been | He/She/It + has been | I have been studying for two hours. Stresses the process and how long it has lasted |
| Negative | S + have/has + not + been + V-ing | She has not (hasn't) been sleeping well. Contraction: have not been = haven't been |
| Interrogative | Have/Has + S + been + V-ing? | How long have you been waiting? Often used with 'How long...?' |
Stresses how long an action has lasted, usually with 'for' or 'since'.
An action that has just stopped, but whose result is still visible.
Stresses the ongoing process rather than a finished result.
| Word | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| for | I have been waiting for 30 minutes. | 'for' + a length of time |
| since | She has been sleeping since 10 PM. | 'since' + a starting point |
| all day/morning/week | He has been studying all day. | |
| how long | How long have you been living here? | Used in questions |
| recently | I have been feeling tired recently. | |
| lately | Have you been exercising lately? |
Fill in the blank, then open the answer to check it.
Options: has been working · has worked · is working · works
has been working. "All morning" plus a visible result (she looks exhausted) calls for the present perfect continuous, which stresses duration.
Options: are you waiting · did you wait · have you been waiting · have you waited
have you been waiting. "How long" asks about a period of time extending to the present, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous tense. Inverted question form with the verb coming before the subject: Have + S + been + V-ing.
Options: has been studying · studied · studies · will study
has been studying. "for two hours" emphasizes the amount of time this has lasted until now, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous. The formula is have/has been + V-ing. The subject "Anna" goes with "has" so the answer is "has been studying".
Options: has touched · have been touching · touching · was touching
have been touching. "Since this morning" emphasizes the period of time this has lasted until now, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous tense. The formula is have/has been + V-ing. The subject "The children" goes with "have" so the answer is "have been touched".
Options: has been raining · have rained · rains · will be raining
has been raining. "for a long time" emphasizes the amount of time this event lasts until now, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous. The formula is have/has been + V-ing. The subject "My brother" goes with "has" so the answer is "has been raining".
Options: had been pulling · has been pulling · has pulled · have pulled
has been pulling. "Since last week" emphasizes the period of time this has lasted until now, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous. The formula is have/has been + V-ing. The subject "The teacher" goes with "has" so the answer is "has been pulling".
Options: builds · built · has been building · will have built
has been building. "for two hours" emphasizes the amount of time this has lasted until now, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous. The formula is have/has been + V-ing. The subject "My sister" goes with "has" so the answer is "has been building".
Options: had been playing · have been playing · is playing · will play
have been playing. "Since this morning" emphasizes the period of time this has lasted until now, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous tense. The formula is have/has been + V-ing. The subject "My parents" goes with "have" so the answer is "have been playing".
Options: has been travelling · have been travelling · have travelled · will have been travelling
has been travelling. "for a long time" emphasizes the amount of time this event lasts until now, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous. The formula is have/has been + V-ing. The subject "Anna" goes with "has" so the answer is "has been traveling".
Options: had been going · has been going · went · will be going
has been going. "Since last week" emphasizes the period of time this has lasted until now, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous. The formula is have/has been + V-ing. The subject "Tom" goes with "has" so the answer is "has been going".
Options: dancing · had danced · has been dancing · have been dancing
has been dancing. "for two hours" emphasizes the amount of time this has lasted until now, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous. The formula is have/has been + V-ing. The subject "My brother" goes with "has" so the answer is "has been dancing".
Options: has been waiting · waited · waits · will wait
has been waiting. "Since this morning" emphasizes the period of time this has lasted until now, so this sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous tense. The formula is have/has been + V-ing. The subject "The teacher" goes with "has" so the answer is "has been waiting".
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