Present perfect continuous rules and examples. Present Perfect Continuous Examples

Why are examples given in the rules? Maybe a detailed explanation is enough? But no! Visual perception English sentence, text, comparison with the Russian version are important, if not the main elements of the entire learning process. This is what will help to comprehend the soul of each phenomenon, for example, Present Perfect continuous.

Let's start with the fact that this time is not just present, but completed and continued. This can mean only one thing: it lasts at the time of the conversation, or literally just ended. Despite its long name, Present Perfect Continuous is easy to use: just two situations or functions.

Present Perfect Continuous Examples

• If the action lasts at the time of the conversation, but it started in the past, happened in that time period, and now it is still relevant, then we use Present Perfect Continuous. In such sentences, you can find hints already, for, since, recently, a question with How long. It can be two parallel actions, and those that were performed repeatedly (several times).

Is it still raining? - It’s been raining since yesterday morning.- Is it still raining? It's been raining since yesterday morning.

Tom has been playing tennis recently.- Tom has been playing tennis lately.

I have been watching the game since I have been sitting there.- I've been watching the game since I sit here.

I have been repairing my car for several days.- I have been repairing my car for several days.

He has been smoking for 10 years.- He has been smoking for 10 years.

• The action that began in the past lasted and ended by the conversation... Most often, signal words are not found in such sentences, the whole situation, and therefore the time, follows from the context.

Sorry.I'm late. I have been preparing for my examination. Have you been waiting?- Sorry I'm late. I was preparing for exams. Have you been waiting?

You are out of breath! Have you been training?“You're out of breath. Have you trained?

Why are you so dirty? What have you been doing?- You're so dirty. What did you do?

I’ve been talking about your problem to my mother.- I talked about your problem with your mom.

• In a separate line, you can display emotionally colored sentences, which also use Present Perfect Continuous

She has been telling lies again. “She’s lying again!

• Very often it is difficult to use cases of Present Perfect Continuous or Present Perfect Simple, because each of them is based on a combination of the past and the present. Let's see the proposals in Present Perfect Continuous and compare.

1. If it is important to us process, not result , then we use it for a long time.

Ann is covered in paint. She has been painting her country house.- Anna is covered in paint. She painted a country house.
The country house was yellow. Now it is blue. Ann has painted it. — Vacation home was yellow. It is now blue. Anna painted it.

Tom should smoke less, because he has been smoking too much recently.- Tom should smoke less. He smokes too much lately.
The guests have smoked all my cigarettes.- The guests have smoked all my cigarettes.

2. Continuous emphasizes the process itself, how long the action lasted, and therefore answers the question How long? (how long) ... Present Perfect Simple answers the question How much? (how) and comments on how much work has been completed in a given time.

My friends have been writing poems all day.“My friends have been writing poems all day.
My friends have written 2 poems today.- Today my friends wrote 2 poems.

How long have you been writing your last novel?- How long did you write your last novel?
How many pages of your novel have you written?- How many pages of your novel did you write?

3. Continued present refers to temporary actions, and completed to permanent .

That man has been standing outside for hours.“That man stood in the street for several hours.
That man has always worked hard.“That man always works hard.

I have known him for some time.- I've known him for a while.
She has been in Minsk for the past last week.- She was in Minsk for the last week.

But Present Perfect Continuous Passive does not exist. You can rejoice, with Passive Voice it will already be easier.

Summarize. Perfect Continuous isn't as hard to remember as it sounds. If you clearly see the pointers, look at the lexical side of the sentence, learn the rules, look at examples, then you will not confuse this time with another.

Not so long ago, we analyzed Present Perfect Simple, but, as you already know, each Simple has a Continuous. First of all, the word “continuous” denotes the duration of the action, and “Present Perfect” hints at the result and unfinished time.

If we sum up it together, it turns out that Present Perfect Continuous Tense is a long-term action with a result, and time is unfinished.

I've been reading an interesting book this week (and I'm still reading). - This week I am reading an interesting book (and I am still reading it).

Let's take a closer look at how Present Perfect Progressive is formed. C "mon.

Present Perfect Continuous Education

Affirmative form is formed using the auxiliary verb " be"In Present Perfect or" have been"(" Has been "for pronouns" he "," she "," it "and nouns in singular). The semantic verb is the present participle or Participle I (verb + ending "-ing").

I have been reading.- I am reading.
We have been running.- We're running.
You have been playing.- You're playing.
They have been working.- They work.
She has been eating.- She eats.
He has been running.- He runs.
It has been working.- It is working.

negative form is formed by putting the particle " not" between " have» (« has") and " been».

I have not been reading.- I do not read.
We have not been running.- We're not running.
You have not been playing.- You are not playing.
They have not been working.- They do not work.
She has not been eating.- She doesn't eat.
It has not been working... - It doesn't work.
He has not been smoking.- He does not smoke.

V interrogative sentences auxiliary " have" or " has»Is issued to the beginning of the sentence, after it comes the subject, then “ been»+ Participle I.

Have I been reading?- I am reading?
Have we been running?- Are we running?
Have you been playing?- You're playing?
Have they been working?- They work?
Has she been eating?- Does she eat?
Has he been running?- He runs?
Has it been working?- It is working?

And of course, do not forget about abbreviations (" contractions»):

I have been V + ing = I've been V + ing.
You have been V + ing = You've been V + ing (they’ve, we’ve).
He / she / it / John has been V + ing = He’s / she’s / it’s / John’s been V + ing.
Has not been V + ing = hasn't been V + ing.
Have not been V + ing = haven't been V-ing.

Using Present Perfect Continuous

We use this time if:

• the action began in the past, lasted for a while, and still continues in the present. This function shows a continuous action, it inherited from the Continuous aspect.

She has been talking for more than an hour, my ears hurt!- She has been chatting for over an hour, my ears hurt!
I've been trying to call you all day!- I've been trying to call you all day!
He's been waiting for you for six hours.- He has been waiting for you for 6 hours (he started waiting 6 hours ago, and is still waiting).

Since this function shows the duration of the action, then the question in Present Perfect Continuous usually begins with the expressions “ how long"(How long, how long) and" since when"(Since when, since when).

How long have you been learning English?- How long have you been studying English?
I have been learning English for four years.- I've been learning English for 4 years.
Since when have you been learning English?- Since when do you study English?
I've been learning English since I was 10.- I have been studying English since I was 10 years old.

Nota bene: if we are talking about an action that continues in the present time, then the translation into Russian will be present.

• the action ended recently, and now its result is visible. The influence of Perfect Simple is immediately visible. But, using Perfect Continuous, we emphasize that the action in the past lasted for some time.

You look so tired. What have you been doing?- You look so tired. What did you do?
Why is the pavement wet? Because it's been raining.- Why is the sidewalk wet? Because it was raining.
I have been smoking for 2 weeks, that’s why I’m so green.“I've been smoking for two weeks, that's why I'm so green.

Nota bene: if we're talking about completed long-term action with the result in the present, then we translate into Russian in the past time.

When using the verbs " work», « teach», « learn», « live"Is used as Present perfect simple(emphasizes the fact of the action), and Present perfect continuous(emphasizes the duration of the action).

He has been living in London for 5 years. = He has lived in London for 5 years.- He has been living in London for (already) 5 years.
She has been teaching English since 2010. = She has taught English since 2010.- She has been teaching English since 2010.
They have been working in this company since they moved here. = They have worked in this company since they moved here.“They have been with this company since they moved here.

• there are state verbs (“state verbs” - “be”, “have”, “know”, “love”, etc.), instead of Present Perfect Continuous we use Present Perfect Simple.

She has been in London for 2 years.- She has been in London for 2 years.
How long have you known him?- How long have you known him?
I’ve known him for 10 years.- I've known him for 10 years.

Although in colloquial speech you can often hear phrases like this:

I "ve been having problems with the car recently.- I recently had a problem with the car.
I "ve been wanting to talk to you.- I want to talk with you.

If speak about Passive voice (passive voice), then the time Present perfect continuous Passive in english not used... Instead, we use the usual Present perfect simple passive.

The author has been writing this book for 3 years.- The author has been writing this book for 3 years.
This book has been written for 3 years.- This book has been written for 3 years.

Time differences

As you have already noticed, when translating from Russian into English, the question always arises: "What time to use?" Let's figure it out.

• Present Perfect Continuous vs Present Perfect.

Present perfect translated as "present perfect (completed) time". We use it when we talk about an action that happened in the past, but we see the result of this action now.

I have just cooked a cake.- I just made a cake.

In this sentence, you focus on the result - you have a finished cake. At the same time, it does not matter at all how much time you spent in order to prepare it - only the result is important.

Now let's see how the sentence in Present perfect continuous... I have been cooking a cake for three hours already. I've been making cake for 3 hours already. As you can see, in this proposal we are focusing on the result and the duration of the action. That is, we are talking not only about the result of the action (the finished cake), but also about how long this action took before the result was obtained.

• Present Perfect Continuous vs Present Continuous.

Present continuous translates as "present continuous tense". We use it when we say that the action began some time ago and is still ongoing. At the same time, we emphasize that it (the action) is still in progress.

I am cooking a cake.- I'm making a cake.

You say that you are currently in the process of cooking, that is, you started cooking some time ago and are still cooking now. At the same time, it does not matter to us how long you are already cooking, what is important is that you are doing it at the moment.

Compare with the sentence in Present Perfect Continuous:

I have been smoking since morning.- I smoke in the morning.

In this proposal, we focus not so much on the fact that we are smoking at the moment, but on the fact that it took us a certain amount of time. That is why such sentences always contain time indicators (“ since morning», « In one hour», « all evening" etc.).

• Present Perfect Continuous vs Past Continuous.

Past Continuous is translated as "past continuous" time. We use this time when we talk about an action in the past that lasted for some time.

He was reading a book all night.- He read the book all night.

In this sentence, we are talking about a process in the past that has been going on for some time. But notice, this process has nothing to do with the present. For example, he had an exam last week and spent the whole night preparing for it. Now let's compare with Present Perfect Continuous:

He has been reading a book all night.- He read the book all night.

As we already said, Present Perfect Continuous shows that the action has completed recently or has just completed, and we can see its result at the moment. For example, he now looks tired (result), as he did not sleep all night and read the book.

Conclusion

Today we got acquainted with Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) Tense. We learned how to properly shape and use this time. We were convinced that there is still a big difference in what time to use, although in the Russian version everything sounds almost the same. Maybe it seemed to you that this topic is very complex and incomprehensible, but now you are definitely aware.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with other tenses of the English language

Keep studying grammar and use your skills!

Big and friendly family EnglishDom

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If you study it carefully, you will notice that the main meaning of this time is to transfer the connection of a certain process with the present moment. If it's simpler, then a couple present perfect & present perfect continuous very similar to present simple & present continuous. One time in each pair serves for the transmission of facts (results in the case of perfect simple) and the other indicates a process. But these "processes" are not alike.

present perfect continuous rules and examples

So let's consider present perfect continuous rules and examples... There are 3 main cases when it is possible (and even necessary) to use present perfect continuous .

the rule	example	translation
To express a process that has been going on for a period of time but has just ended. It is connected with the present, a certain result is visible.	I have been tidy ing up the house for three hours so I look tired.	I cleaned the house for three hours, so I look tired.
To express an action that began some time ago and still lasts at the moment of speech.	Look! She has been read ing that book since yesterday.	Look! She has been reading that book since yesterday.
To convey an action that has occurred regularly over a long period of time and is still happening.	Every morning he drinks the same coffee. He has been do ing this for five years.	He drinks the same coffee every morning. He has been doing this for five years.

Peculiarities of using present perfect continuous. Questions and denials

Have consumption present perfect continuous very similar to normal perfect time. Just for present perfect continuous not the 3rd form of the semantic verb is used, but the ingo one. You must have noticed the ending –Ing in each example. If you need to form a negation, use ‘Haven’t been’ and ‘Hasn’t been’. Use present perfect continuous in questions, it is limited to the need to make an auxiliary verb in front of the subject. Take a look at the following examples.

(-) She hasn’t been ask ing any questions for three days. - She doesn't ask anything for 3 days.

(?) Has it been rain ing here? - Was it raining here?

How to train the difference between the present perfect and the present perfect continuous?

We hope this article on the topic “ present perfect continuous rules and examples”Helped you figure it out. We wish you success in conquering the heights of the English language and will be happy to help you in learning it!

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Present perfect continuous (Present Perfect Progressive) - present long perfect time. Present perfect continuous is not very popular in English for three reasons:

1. Long form.
2. Narrow aspect of use.
3. Interchangeability. In some cases Present perfect continuous can be easily replaced with Present perfect without changing the meaning of the sentence.

But this does not mean that our article should be closed and forgotten about the existence Present perfect continuous... Scope of use Present perfect continuous rather narrow, but this time takes its place in the English language, and sometimes it is impossible to replace it with another. Moreover, in speech Present perfect continuous sounds very impressive if you use it correctly.

How Present Perfect Continuous is formed

Statement

The peculiarity of this time is that it combines two aspects - Perfect and Continuous. Present perfect continuous formed with an auxiliary verb to be v Present perfect – have been(or has been for pronouns he, she, it and singular nouns). The main verb is the verb + ending -ing.

I/We/You/They + have been + verb- ing	He/She/It + has been + verb- ing
I have been read ing ... - I am reading. We have been wait ing ... - We expect. You have been play ing ... - You're playing. They have been work ing ... - They work.	He has been runn ing ... - He runs. She has been laugh ing ... - She is laughing. It has been work ing ... - It is working.

Negation

A particle appears in negation not which must be placed between have (has) and been.

I/We/You/They + have not been + verb- ing	He/She/It + has not been + verb- ing
I have not been read ing ... - I do not read. We have not been wait ing ... - We do not expect. You have not been play ing ... - You are not playing. They have not been work ing ... - They do not work.	He has not been runn ing ... - He doesn't run. She has not been laugh ing ... - She's not laughing. It has not been work ing ... - It doesn't work.

We can use abbreviated forms for the verb have (has). In an affirmative sentence have/has combines with the pronoun:

• You’ve been playing.
• She's been laughing.

In a negative sentence have/has merges with not:

• We haven’t been waiting.
• He hasn’t been running.

Question

In an interrogative sentence have/has is put in first place, and been remains with the main verb. Thus, it turns out that in the first place we have have (has), after it the subject, then been and the main verb closes this long chain.

Have + I/we/you/they + been verb- ing	Has + he/she/it + been verb- ing
Have I been read ing ? - I am reading? Have we been wait ing ? - We expect? Have you been play ing ? - You're playing? Have they been work ing ? - They work?	Has he been runn ing ? - He runs? Has she been laugh ing ? - She is laughing? Has it been work ing ? - It is working?

To make it convenient for you to study this time, we divided all its functions into three blocks: green (for entry level), yellow (for medium), red (for high).

Using Present Perfect Continuous

First level

Time Present perfect continuous looks like at the same time Present perfect, and on Present continuous... This time has two main functions: one contains the meaning of the aspect Continuous, the second - aspect Perfect.

1. We use Present perfect continuous, if the action began in the past, lasted for some time and still continues in the present. This function shows a long-term action, it got from the aspect Continuous.

   As a rule, the proposal indicates the duration of the action, but without clear time boundaries. That is, we can know when the action began, how long it lasted, but we do not know when it will end. To show the time, we use the following words and expressions: lately(v recent times, recently), recently(recently, recently), quite a while(pretty long), all day(all day) as well as prepositions for(during) and since(beginning with).

   Tom has been watching TV all day... - Volume looks television all day. (Tom started watching TV in the morning, watched it all day and is still watching now)

   It has been raining for 3 hours. - Rain goes for three hours. (it started raining three hours ago, lasted for three hours and is still falling now)

   Since this function shows the duration, then the question in Present perfect continuous usually starts with expressions how long(how long, how long) and since when(since when, since when).

   – How long has she been learning French? - How long she teaches French?
   - She has been learning French for seven years. - She teaches French during seven years old.

   – Since when have you been learning German? - Since when you teach German?
   - I have been learning German since yesterday. - I AM teach German with yesterday.

   Pay attention to the translation. We are talking about an action that continues to last in the present, therefore, translated into Russian, the verb will be in the present tense.

2. We use Present perfect continuous if the action ended recently and its result is now visible. This function is inherited from aspect Perfect... But using Perfect continuous, we emphasize that the action in the past lasted for some time.
   

   Your clothes are dirty. What have you been doing? - Your clothes are dirty. What you did? (now she is dirty, which means that before that he was doing something where he could get dirty)

   I ’Ve been talking to Sandy about the problem and she agrees with me. - I AM talked with Sandy about this issue and she agrees with me. (in the present, Sandy agrees with me because we have discussed this issue in the past)

   In this function, the duration may or may not be specified.

   We are very tired. We have been walking in the mountains. - We are very tired. We walked in the mountains.

   We are very tired. We have been walking in the mountains since early morning. - We are very tired. We walked in the mountains c early morning.

   Pay attention to the translation. In this function, we are talking about an action that has already ended, therefore, in translation into Russian, the verb will be in the past tense.

Where else does Present Perfect Continuous occur?

Average level

1. With verbs like work, live, feel, teach are used like Present perfect and Present perfect continuous no difference in meaning. These verbs imply that the action takes a long period of time, that is, it already becomes a permanent state.
   

   I ’Ve worked here for 20 years. = I ’Ve been working here for 20 years. - I AM working here for 20 years.

   Her family has lived in Moscow since 1781. = Her family has been living in Moscow since 1781. - Her family lives in Moscow since 1781.

   If you want to emphasize that the situation is temporary, use Present perfect continuous.

2. (state verbs) are most often not used in Present perfect continuous... But, as is often the case in English, there are exceptions. If we want to emotionally highlight some action, then we can use Present perfect continuous... Very often verbs are used in this function. mean(gather, intend), want(to want), wish(to wish), other state verbs are less common.
   

   We ’Ve been wishing to visit India for ages. - We want have been visiting India for many years.

   He ’S been thinking it over. - He is ponders... = He's been over it for a long time ponders.

Difficult Use Cases Present Perfect Continuous

High level

1. Present perfect continuous used in conjunction with Past simple in complex sentences with union since... In a clause that starts with since, we use Past simple, it is the starting point for the action in the main sentence. And in the main sentence there will be Present perfect continuous.
   

   Silvia has been playing tennis since she was ten. - Sylvia plays tennis since, how her turned ten. (she has been playing tennis since she was ten)

2. We use Present perfect continuous when we conclude from what we saw or heard, in most cases with a tinge of discontent or criticism.
   

   Who has been messing around with my papers ?! How should I work now ?! - Who rummaged in my papers ?! How can I work now ?!

   He has been eating chocolate though he knows that he is allergic to it! - He ate chocolate even though he knows he's allergic!

   Present perfect continuous shows indignation at an action that happened once, while Present continuous presupposes dissatisfaction with an action that is constantly repeated.

Present perfect continuous- a time with a frightening name and a long form of education. But appearance is deceiving, it has only 2 main functions in the language: to show long-term action and action with a result. The rest of the functions can be considered as derivatives. If you suddenly forget how Present perfect continuous, you can always look at the table. And in order not to forget anything, take the test.

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Present Perfect Continuous - present long perfect tense in English

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