Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Identification of the Tense: - The event is happing for a long time back. Ex:-

  1. Rajiv has been going to school for last one year.
  2. I have been playing football since morning.
  3. He has not been studying for a few days.
  4. Have they been living here for a long time now?
There is continuity in the happening of all the events for a long time in above examples.
Usage:- In Present Perfect Continuous Tense we usually use 
  1. First form of the verb + ing and
  2. has been (with singular subject/have been (if the subject is plural or I)
  3. Since if point of time is given/for if duration of time is given.
Ex:- Since 1988 (point of time)/ for 22 years (duration of time)
Explanations:-
In first sentence "Rajiv has been going to school for last one year".
Rajiv being a singular noun is carrying has been along with first form of the verb go+ing and for is used for the duration of the time given in the sentence.
In second sentence " I have been playing football since morning."
I although represents a singular pronoun but is always considered in plural pronouns thus carrying have been along with first form of the verb play+ing and since is used for the point of time (morning) given in the sentence.
In third sentence "He has not been studying for a few days."
Being a  negative sentence not is being inserted in between has and been leaving other rules of singular pronoun and duration of time intact.
In fourth sentence "Have they been living here for a long time now."
In this  interogative sentence pronoun they  is preceeded by have and succeed by been of have been leaving other conditions of plural pronoun and time as such.

Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative

I have been studying.
We have been studying.
You have been studying.
They have been studying.
He has been studying.
Rahul has been studying.

I have not been studying.
We have not been studying.
You have not been studying.
They have not been studying.
He has not been studying.
Rahul has not been studying.

Have I been playing?
Have we been playing?
Have you been playing?
Have they been playing?
Has he been playing?
Has Rahul been playing?

Use of Present Perfect Continuous Tense:-
to express an action which began in the past and is still continuing.

  • It has been raining since 6 a.m.
  • They have been playing for two hours.
  • I have been waiting for him for an hour and he still hasn’t come.

to express an  action which is already finished, but whose effect or result persists.

  • She is shivering because he has been bathing for an hour.
  • The boys have been running round the town all day and are now resting.

Practise Exercise for Present perfect Continuous Tense

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