IT’S I- PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Hello everyone,
Let’s move ahead and continue the next part of Tense. It’s me, Present Perfect Continuous Tense. Hope you have attempted the quizzes of Future Perfect Tense and understood the lesson of Future Perfect thoroughly. If you are new and or wish to revise you can start from the beginning and learn all the chapters of Tenses stepwise. Now let’s quickly see how I, Present Perfect Continuous Tense help you in framing your statements.
I am a little bit confusing as I talk about the actions that started in the recent past but are still in process. Due to the continuous process of the work people often misinterpret me with the Present Continuous Tense. But you can recognize me very easily by the timing given in the statement.
See these examples:-
- Warren has been reading my book since last night.
- These boys have been playing chess for two hours.
- But sometimes, in informal conversation, you can keep the timing in hidden form i.e. you needn’t speak the timing but you’ll have to catch the sense that the action has begun in the recent past but has not been finished till now and is in progress.
See these ones:-
- Renu is not aware of the whole matter. She has been sleeping.
- Have you been present here?
Have you been present here ( since I have returned ?)
- Why have you not been replying if you were hearing my voice?
Why have you not been replying ( since then) if you were hearing my voice?
Thus you can define me in the following way:-
Definition
“ Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used to express an action that began in the past and has been in progress till the time of speaking or has been finished recently.”
Key Feature of Present Perfect Continuous Tense / How to recognize Present Perfect Continuous Tense:-
- Auxiliary Verb – has been/ have been + V4(V1+ing)
- Timing since/for Since for + time, point of time.
- Work has been started in the recent past but has not been finished till now
Since- Point of Time ( Two o’ clock, Last Night, Last Sunday)
For- Period of Time ( Two days, Four months, five years)
- Adverbs of recognition
recently, lately, since ever, never, awhile ago,
1. Started action in the recent past and is still in progress.
I have been waiting for you since 7 O clock.
( I started waiting at 7 O clock and still waiting)
I think you have been stitching this shirt for two hours.
2. To express an action that has been finished just a while ago.
( A while ago, recently, lately)
Saloni has been watching T.V recently.
(She has stopped watching now.)
I have been resting lately.
(But I am feeling better now.)
Some stray animals have been trading over the flowerbed recently.
(They have gone now.)
Have you really been studying?
(I am noticing you right now playing.)
3. Showing two contrast consistent actions
Sometimes I help you to show two opposite actions in the process
Read these examples: –
You have only been complaining against your child but not understanding him.
We have always been planning for a picnic but never visit.
Note. In such kinds of sentences, the structure can be without Since/for
as it is replaced with the
words like recently, lately.
Structure of Present Perfect Continuous
Structure of Present Perfect Continuous
Affirmative
Subject+ has been/have been + V4 (V1 + ing) Object+ Since/for+ Time.
Subjects:
Singular-Has been
Plural- Have been
1st person Singular ( I ) – have been
It has been raining since last night.
Ankush has been studying for 2 hours
How ‘ Since ’ or ‘ For ‘ is used in Present Perfect Continuous
Since- Point of Time – Definite Time -( Two o’clock, Last Night, Last Sunday)
For- Period of Time – Indefinite Time ( Two days, Four months, five years)
Structure of Present Perfect Continuous Negative
Subject+ has not been/ have not been+ V4 (V1 + ing) Object+ Since/for+ Time.
You have not been studying since yesterday.
I have not been waiting for you for two hours.
Structure of Present Perfect Continuous Interrogative Type -1
Has/have+ subject + been + V4 (V1 + ing) Object+ Since/for+ Time.
Have you been cooking since 9 P.M.?
Has she been crying for two hours?
Structure of Present Perfect Continuous Interrogative type 2
‘ Wh ‘ family word + Has/have+ subject+ been+ IV (V1 + ing) Object+ Since/for+ Time.
Why have you been beating him since morning?
Where has Ankur been playing for 3 hours?
Whom have you been searching for?
Structure of Present Perfect Continuous Interrogative type 3
How much/ How many + related noun + has/have + Subject+ been+ V4 (V1 + ing) Object+ Since/for+Since/for+ Time
Time.
How much money have you been spending on your bike for the last 4 days?
How many plants have you been stealing from my garden?
Structure of Present Perfect Continuous Interrogative Negative
Only remember to add ‘ NOT’ after the ‘ Subject’ remaining part will be the same
—–has/have+ Subject + not+ has been—-
Have you not been reading this book since last night?
Why have you not been taking care of yourself?
How much money have you not been spending on your education over the last five years?