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The present perfect continuous tense

Perfect English Grammar

Also called the present perfect progressive


Click here to download this explanation as a pdf
Learn about USING the present perfect continuous here



How to form the present perfect continuous

It's not a very common tense, and often it's not taught in classes, but we do use it sometimes and it's very good to know how to make it, and to recognise it when other people use it.

Luckily, it's very easy to make. Here's the positive (it's the present perfect of 'be' + verb -ing):

Positive Positive Short Form
I have been walking I've been walking
you have been running you've been running
he has been cooking he's been cooking
she has been swimming she's been swimming
it has been raining it's been raining
we have been studying we've been studying
they have been sleeping they've been sleeping


To make the negative, just add 'not':

Negative Negative Short Form
I have not been walking I haven't been walking
you have not been running you haven't been running
he has not been cooking he hasn't been cooking
she has not been swimming she hasn't been swimming
it has not been raining it hasn't been raining
we have not been studying we haven't been studying
they have not been sleeping they haven't been sleeping

Try making the positive and negative forms here


Can you guess how to make the question form of the present perfect continuous? It's not very difficult - just put 'have' or 'has' before the subject:

'Yes / No' Questions
have I been walking?
have you been running?
has he been cooking?
has she been swimming?
has it been raining?
have we been studying?
have they been sleeping?

For 'wh' questions put the question word first:

'Yes / No' Questions
what have I been doing?
where have you been running?
what has he been studying?
why has she been working today?
how long has it been raining?
how long have we been watching this film?
how long have they been living here?

Here's an exercise about questions