The present perfect continuous is one of the twelve verb tenses that exist in English. Since it is one of the most used on a day-to-day basis, it is very important to know when it is used and what its structure is like in order to use it correctly.

In this post we will learn the present perfect continuous at level II, so the explanations are in English and the examples shown have an intermediate difficulty.

Uses of the present perfect continuous

We use the present perfect continuous for:

1. Talk about events or actions that started in the past and are still happening now.

I have been dreaming about the sunken city every day since 1932.
Pablo has been dating his current sweetheart for years now.
My Playstation 2 has been working perfectly since I got it.
The protestors have been waiting outside Congress for hours.

2. Actions or situations that have recently finished which are still felt in the present.

The whole department is tired because we’ve been working all weekend.
Lydia has been working in finishing her latest novel for the last month.
My ferret has been feeling sick for a while, thankfully it’s now better.
The kids at school have been enjoying a school trip that lasted a week.

Structure of the present perfect continuous

Affirmative sentences

Subject + auxiliary verb (have) + auxiliary verb in past participle (been) + verb with –ing + rest of the sentence

My father has been working in advertisement since he finished his studies.
The raptors have been stalking his prey for several hours.
Both Louis and Sarah have been seeing other people since they broke up.
I have been watching Star Trek a lot more recently.

When the subject is the third person singular (he/she/it) we use has instead of have.

Negative sentences

Subject + auxiliary verb (have) + not + auxiliary verb in past participle (been) + verb with –ing + rest of the sentence

My father has not been working in advertisement since he finished his studies.
The raptors have not been stalking his prey for several hours.
Louis and Sarah have not been seeing other people since they broke up.
I have not been watching Star Trek a lot more recently.

Note: We usually use the contractions haven’t and hasn’t instead of have not and has not: these are more used in a formal register.

I haven’t been drinking all night. = I have not been drinking all night.
The giant mantis hasn’t been attacking anyone yet. = The giant mantis has not been attacking anyone yet.

Interrogative sentences

Auxiliary verb (have) + subject + auxiliary verb (been) in past participle + verb with –ing + rest of the sentence + ?

Has my father been working in advertisement since he finished his studies?
Have the raptors been stalking his prey for several hours?
Have Louis and Sarah been seeing other people since they broke up?
Have I been watching Star Trek a lot more recently?

However, keep in mind that, when asking about the time and action has taken, you can add a How long… to the sentence.

How long have you been watching Star Trek?

Present perfect continuous - Level II