Present Perfect Continuous

To grades 8A, 8B and 8C

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous.

 

USE  Duration from the Past Until Now

The Present Perfect Continuous has the meaning of "lately" or "recently."

 

FORM

Affirmative form
[S + has/have + been + present participle + c]

 

Examples:

• You have been waiting here for two hours.
• Recently, I have been feeling really tired.
• She has been watching too much television lately.
• Mary has been feeling a little depressed.

Negative form
[S + has/have + not + been + present participle + c]

• Lisa has not been practicing her English.
• You have not been waiting here for two hours.
• John has not been playing soccer.
• We have not been talking too much.

Interrogative form
[ has/have + S + been + present participle + c ?]

Examples:

• Have you been waiting here for two hours?
• What have you been doing?
• Where have you been working lately?
• How long has Steve been writing his essay?

Exercise:

A. Fill in the blanks with the Present Perfect Continuous of the verbs in brackets.

1. Mary ………………………………..… (play) trompet since half past three.
2. How long………………………………..… (John/study) for the exam?
3. Where………………………………..… (she/live) since then?
4. Michael………………………………..… (sleep) for two hours.
5. Jane……………………………(work) in the supermarket since half past ten and she is still there.
6. Those chemicals………………………………..… (pollute) our rivers and rivulets.
7. They ………………………………..… (not/live) in London lately.
8. What ………………………………..… (you/do) for the last two hours?
9. The children………………………………..… (play) outside.
10. She………………………………..… (do) the homework since she arrived home.