Present perfect and past perfect
Present perfect continuous
affirmative, negative, yes/no, wh- questionsb1
Present perfect continuous
- I've been studying all day.
- I hate this weather. It's been raining all week!
- She hasn't been working here for very long.
- ‘Why is your hair wet? Have you been swimming in the lake?’
We form the present perfect continuous with: Subject + have + been + -ing form. In spoken and informal written English we usually use short forms (I've been studying, he's been studying, etc.) We form yes/no questions with: Have + subject + been + -ing form? We form short answers with have.
We form wh-questions with: Question word + have + subject + been + -ing form?
Positive and negative
Subject
have
been
-ing form
+
have
been
studying.
-
haven't
+
He/She/It
has
-
hasn't
+
have
-
haven't
Yes/no questions
Have
subject
been
-ing form
Have
been
Has
he/she/it
Have
Wh- questions
Question word
have
subject
been
-ing form
have
been
has
he/she/it
have
We use the present perfect continuous to talk about an action or activity that started in the past and continues now or has only just stopped.
- I hate this weather! It's been raining all week (= and it is still raining).
- I need a break. I've been studying all day (= and I have just stopped).
We use the present perfect continuous to talk about a current situation that started in the past. We often use it to ask or answer the question How long …? We can use it with for + a period of time or since + a point in time.
- I've been working here for eight years.
- ‘How long has he been playing basketball?’ ‘Since he was twelve years old.’
We use the present perfect continuous to give reasons for current situations.
- ‘Why is your hair wet?’ ‘I've been swimming in the lake.’
- ‘Why is she tired?’ ‘She's been working hard all day.’
We don't usually use the present perfect continuous with state verbs like be, have and know.
- I've known Jack for five years.I've been knowing Jack for five years.
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