If you study it carefully, you can see that the main significance of this time is to convey the connection of a certain process with the present moment. If simpler, then a couple present perfect & present perfect continuous very similar to present simple & present continuous. One time in each pair serves to convey 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 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 |
transfer |
|
To express a process that lasted a period of time, but has just completed. It is connected with the present, a certain result is visible. |
I have been tidy ingup 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 transmit an action that has taken place regularly over a long period of time and still occurs. |
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. |
Features of use present perfect continuous. Questions and denials 
At 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 ingovic. You probably noticed the ending –Ing in each example. If you need to form a negation, use ‘Haven’t been’ and ‘Hasn’t been’. The use of present perfect continuous in matters is limited by the need to make an auxiliary verb in front of the subject. Pay attention to 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? - Did it rain here?
How to train the difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous?
Topic: The repetition of times with expansion and in comparison. Real times
Lesson: Present Perfect Continuous
PresentPerfectContinuous - present perfect long time. In order to use it correctly, you need to understand what kind of action it describes and how it differs fundamentally from such close times as Present Perfect, Present continuous and Past Continuous.
PresentPerfectContinuous used to express a long action that began in the past and continues until the moment of speech.
How is Present Perfect Continuous built?
Present Perfect Continuous belongs to the Perfect group, which means that it will include the verb have. This time also belongs to the Continuous group, therefore, in its composition we will meet the verb tobe - ing. Note that the linking verb to be will be used in the third form.
Thus, affirmative statement in Present Perfect Continuous will look like this:
If we want to make negative statementthen to the verb have/ has we will add a negative particle not.
This time describes an action that began in the past, lasted a certain period of time until the present moment and is still in its development at the moment of speech. In this meaning, Present Perfect Continuous is translated into Russian by a verb in the present tense.
1) He has been working in this shop for five years.
He has been working in this store for five years.
We say that he started working here 5 years ago (that is, an action that began in the past), worked in it for five years (indicating the period of time during which this action continued) and continues to work there for the time being.
2) How long have they been living in Moscow?
How long do they live in Moscow?
The question implies that they lived in Moscow for some period of time to the present day and continue to live in the present.
Fig. 2. Illustration for example ()
3) The History Museum has been functioningsince 1872.
The historical museum has been operating since 1872.
We are talking about the fact that the historical museum began to work in 1872 (this is the beginning of action in the past), it worked from 1872 to the present (we indicate the time period) and continues to work now.
As can be seen from the above examples, Present Perfect Continuous always implies or directly indicates the period of time during which the action took place, therefore this time is usually accompanied by the following signal words:
- foranhour - In one hour
- foramonth - within a month
- foralongtime - over time
- sinceyesterday - since yesterday
- since five o’clock - since five o'clock
- since morning - since morning
- sinceshereturned - since she returned
- lately - recently, recently
- all my life - all life
- all this year - all this year
- all day long - all day
- thesethreeweeks - these three weeks
Fig. 3. Illustration for signal words ()
PresentContinuous expresses a long action in the present tense. In order to build Present Continuous, we need the verb tobe in the necessary form, and to the semantic verb we will add the ending - ing. Remember to choose the desired form of the verb to be - am, isor are.
Here are some examples. affirmative statements:
To build interrogative statementneed to make a verb tobe, namely its form am/ is/ are, on first place in a sentence.
In spoken English, as a rule, abbreviated forms of affirmative and negative statements are used, for example, I’m, isn’t, aren’t, etc.
Present Perfect Continuous, like PresentContinuousdenotes actwhich is located in development at the time of speech, therefore, both of these verb forms are translated into Russian using verbs in the present tense. The only difference is that PresentPerfectContinuous always indicates or implies time periodduring which the action developed.
Let's look at the following examples.
1) I have been watching TV for two hours.
I watch TV for two hours.
So at the moment I'm watching TV. I started watching it earlier and have been watching it for two hours now.
Fig. 5. Illustration for example ()
Compare with the following situation.
2) I amreading a book now. - I'm reading a book now.
I am currently reading a book. I began to read it earlier, but it is not indicated how long I have read it to date.
This is the difference between Present Continuous and Present Perfect Continuous.
Now let's see what is the difference between Present Perfect Continuous and Present Perfect.
The difference between the two is that PresentPerfectContinuous points to time intervalin which the action takes place, whereas PresentPerfect indicates only result.
PresentPerfect - present completed time. It describes the action that has ended so far. As in all tenses of the Perfect group, it will include the verb have/ has and a semantic verb in the third form.
Affirmative statement in Present Perfect it would look like this:
Spoken English generally uses abbreviated forms of haven’t / hasn’t.
Let's compare two situations.
1) She hasbeenlearning English forfouryears. “She has been studying English for four years now.”
The time period is indicated.
2) I havebeen to London. “I've been to London.”
Only the result is important to us.
Fig. 7. Illustration for example ()
Present Perfect Continuous is also used to express an action that has lasted for a period, but has now ended. In such a situation, we will translate it using the verb in the past tense.
1) What work have you been doing up to now?
What kind of work have you done so far?
2) Here you are at last! I have been looking for you. - Here you are! I was looking for you.
We mean that actions have been carried out in the past for some period of time, but are currently not being performed.
In such situations, Present Perfect Continuous is important not to be confused with Past Continuous, which also expresses a long-lasting action that is no longer ongoing. The difference here is that PastContinuous expresses non-current action. It is only important for us at what moment in the past this action took place. And Present Perfect Continuous is connected with the present moment.
PastContinuous serves to describe long-term actions in the past.
In order to compose affirmative statement in Past Continuous we need a linking verb tobe past tense was/ were, and to the semantic verb we will add the ending - ing.
For negative statements we to the verb tobe add the negative particle not, and to the semantic verb we add the ending - ing.
|
was not (wasn’t) |
jumping at 2 o’clock yesterday. |
|
|
were not (weren’t) |
Spoken English predominantly uses a short form.
Remember!PresentPerfectContinuousNOT used with verbs expressing feelings, perceptionas well as with verbs tobe, tobe long, toconsist… and some others. Instead of Present Perfect Continuous, in these cases it is used PresentPerfect, which is translated by the verb in the present tense.
E.g. 1) He has been here since 6 o’clock. “He's been here since six o'clock.”
2) We have not noticed any movement in the street for two hours.
We do not notice any movement on the street for two hours.
Fig. 8. Illustration for example ()
Now let's practice with specific examples to consolidate the knowledge gained in the lesson.
Look at the sentences and open the brackets using the verbs in the necessary forms. Use Present Perfect Continuous.
1. We (to change) our clothes. -\u003e We have been changing our clothes.
2. She (to carry) a bag. -\u003e She has been carrying a bag.
3. You (to listen) to the radio. -\u003e You have been listening to the radio.
4. We (to walk) in the mountains. -\u003e We have been walking in the mountains.
5. The teacher (to explain) the tenses. -\u003e The teacher has been explaining the tenses.
6. She (to brush) her teeth. -\u003e She has been brushing her teeth.
7. They (to swim) in the lake. -\u003e They have been swimming in the lake.
So, in this lesson we learned another time in English grammar - Present Perfect Continuous. We examined its formation and use, and also discussed how it differs from similar English times.
1. Afanasyeva OV, Mikheeva IV, Baranova K.M. English language Grade 8, Bustard
2. Vaulina Yu.E., Duli D., Podolyako O.E. and other English language Grade 8, Enlightenment
3. Butler O. B., Kazyrbaeva N.Yu., Kuzevanova N.I. etc. English language Grade 8, Title
4. Golitsinsky Yu.B., Grammar. Exercise Book, Caro, 2011 ().
1. Expand the brackets by putting the verbs in the desired form.
1. Yesterday at 5 o’clock I (to watch) TV with my friends. 2. He (to work) in this supermarket for 10 years. 3. She (to look) for her notebook at the moment. 4. They never (to be) to Russia. 5. Where you (to be) all the day long? - I (to run) in the forest. 6. Look! Chris (to write) with errors on the blackboard. 7. At that moment we (to go) to the cinema. 8. Jane (not to see) her best friend since she returned from Rome. 9. He (to jump) since 4 o’clock. 10. They (to study) at the same college since 2010. 11. How many times you (to be) to London? 12. I (to wait) for my sister since morning. 13. You (to see) him this morning? 14. Be quicker! Don’t forget that I (to wait) for you. 15. How long you (to live) in this marvelous town?
2. control 233, 234 p. 42, Golitsinsky Yu.B. Grammar: Exercise Book, KARO, 2011 ().
In this article, we will talk about Present Perfect Continuous time and consider its use in life examples.
Time is rather difficult in education, but a little practice, exercises - and you will remember its shape. Present Perfect Continuous form combines the features of a group Perfect (auxiliary verbs have / has + verb BE in the third form) and group tenses Continuous (semantic verb with the ending -ING).
Consider the different types of statements:
Statement
|
have |
been |
Ving: |
|
|
has |
Negation
|
have not (haven’t) |
been |
Ving: |
|
|
has not (hasn’t) |
General and informational issues
|
(How long) (What) (When) |
Have |
been |
Ving: |
|
|
Has |
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Values
Present Perfect Continuous Combines Group Times Perfect (action taken; action that has not yet completed) and Continuous (action in progress).
Present Perfect Continuous has three main meanings. You probably read books, studied the rules, so I won’t just rewrite them again, but explain the use of Present Perfect Continuous time using examples of situations that we encounter in life.
Value 1.
An action that began in the past and continues right up to the present. Present Perfect Continuous is used to emphasize the duration of the action.
Situation 1.
You are about to go for a walk, but suddenly it starts to rain. You decide to wait until it ends, but an hour, two, three, and the rain does not end. You are complaining:
The rain started three hours ago and still has not ended, the action is in the process, which you can watch the window.
Situation 2.
You agreed to meet a friend, and he is late. You have been waiting for half an hour, but he’s all gone. You lose patience, call him and say:
You came half an hour ago and are still waiting for your non-punctual friend, the action is still not completed.
Situation 3.
Teenager bought a new computer game and he joyfully decided to go through it. The game turned out to be so exciting that after a while his parents began to worry:
You play in the morning! - You have been playing since morning!
Their son sat at the computer in the morning, and still his game is not over, he continues to play.
But not always can we observe the action right at the moment of speech. Sometimes Present Perfect Continuous denotes an action that we have more associated with a habit than with a process. In this case, Present Perfect Continuous is often confused with. Let's look at the situation.
Situation 4.
Anna celebrates her birthday with her friends every birthday. She began to celebrate it with her friends when she was a student, and since then she has been inviting friends every year. What time to use: it seems like a habit, but on the other hand it continues (repeats) for some time.
Ann always celebrates her birthday with her friends. - Anna always celebrates her birthday with friends.
Ann has been celebrating her birthday with her friends since she was student. - Anna celebrates her birthday with friends since she was a student.
Look, Present Simple we used when we just talked about this habit (or rather tradition). But as soon as it was necessary to indicate the period of time during which this habit exists, we use Present Perfect Continuous.
Present Perfect Continuous can be mistakenly associated exclusively with an action, the continuation of which we can observe at the moment of speech. Present Perfect Continuous is used to emphasize the duration of an action or habit.
Situation 5.
Your friend began to learn English five years ago. He has been studying English for five years now and is not going to stop. He can say:
I learn English. I have been learning English for five years. - I learn English. I have been studying English for five years.
As you can see from the examples, the translation of the sentences is identical, except that the second sentence indicates the period of time. Such an insignificant detail, and in English - two completely different times!
Value 2.
Present Perfect Continuous can indicate an action that lasted for some time, has just finished, and the obvious result of this action is visible. Consider the situation.
Situation 1.
You wake up in the morning and look out the window: the ground is wet, there are puddles everywhere, but the sun is already shining. You, of course, understand that it has recently rained.
He walked for a while (the action lasted for a while). You did not see the rain itself, you saw only its result. You can conclude:
It has been raining. - It rained.
Situation 2.
The student is late for class. The lesson is already beginning, and then it bursts into the audience: the hair is disheveled, cannot catch its breath. It becomes clear to everyone that he was running:
He has been running. - He was running.
I hope that after analyzing the situations it became easier for you to understand and use Present Perfect Continuous Tense. Leave your comments, subscribe to our newsletter and join us in