Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Present perfect continuous tense is the action started in the past and continues to the present.
This tenses focus on the process of the action.
In this lesson, you’ll learn when and how to use this tense and practise using it.
When and how to use the present perfect continuous tense?
Present Perfect Continuous
Usage
- Talk about actions that started in the past and continue into the present.
- Talk about actions that have just finished and are relevant to the present.
- Talk about temporary situations.
Structure
- Have/has + (not) + been + past participle verb
Verbs
- Use with action verbs.
Common Time Expressions
- For, since, all day/morning/afternoon, recently, lately etc.
Examples
She has been crying in her bedroom.
They have been going to France every year for 10 years.
My mum has been cooking in the kitchen all morning.
Practise
Fill the gaps with the present perfect continuous form.
Common mistakes learners make
- Using stative verbs instead of action verbs
- Forgetting ‘been’ in the structure
- Using the wrong time expressions
Common mistakes learners make
- Using stative verbs instead of action verbs
- Forgetting ‘been’ in the structure
- Using the wrong time expressions