Using Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The present perfect continuous tense looks like this: has/have + been + verbing
The present perfect continuous tense is not the same as the present continuous tense or the present perfect tense. Therefore, it is important to know how and when to use the present perfect continuous tense, the present continuous tense and the present perfect tense because each tense indicates a different action. Read and compare these three sentences. Do they convey the same repairing action?
Sentence 1 The mechanic has been repairing Tom's car for days.
(present perfect continuous tense)
Sentence 2 The mechanic is repairing Tom's car now.
(present continuous tense)
Sentence 3 The mechanic has repaired Tom's car.
(present perfect tense)
Sentence 1 involves the present perfect continuous tense and conveys the idea that the mechanic started to repair Tom's car some time in the past and subsequently he continued to repair the car till present and most probably he is still repairing the car at the time of speaking. There is no indication of the actual specified length of time. The phrase "for days" does not convey any idea about the actual number of days.
Sentence 2 involves the present continuous tense and conveys the idea that the mechanic is repairing Tom's car at the time of speaking but it does not indicate when the mechanic started to repair the car.
Sentence 3 involves the present perfect tense and conveys the idea that the mechanic is no longer repairing Tom's car. The action of repairing is finished and Tom's car is no longer faulty.
Therefore, you can see that these three tenses indicate different actions. If you are not familiar with them, you might convey the wrong idea to your listeners!
The present perfect continuous tense can be used to indicate an action that started sometime in the past and subsequently it continued to go on till now and most probably it is still going on at the time of speaking. In this kind of sentence construction there is no indication of the actual specified length of time. Words such as "for hours"/"lately"/"quite some time" do not indicate the actual specified length of time. Examples:
The phone has been ringing for hours. (there is no indication of how many hours)
Our customers have been complaining about the faulty products lately. ("lately" indicates not very long ago, but does not indicate how long ago)
We have been receiving anonymous phone calls for quite some time. ("quite some time" does not indicate how long "some time" is)
The present perfect continuous tense can also be used to indicate an action that started from a specified past time and that action went on till now and most probably that action is still going on at the time of speaking. This kind of sentence construction involves the preposition "since". Pay attention to the specified past time as you read the examples.
We have been waiting for Mr Lee's phone call since ten o'clock this morning. (we're still waiting for Mr Lee's phone call)
Nancy and her classmates have been doing revision since last Monday. (Nancy and her classmates are still doing revision)
Mr Lucas has been planning to start his own business since 2006. (Mr Lucas is still planning to start his own business)
The present perfect continuous tense can also be used to indicate an action that has gone for a specified length of time and subsequently it continued to go on till now and most probably it is still going on at the time of speaking. The kind of sentence construction involves the preposition "for". Examples:
Tom has been talking on the phone for 20 minutes. (most probably Tom is still talking on the phone)
They have been taking drugs for almost 2 months. (most probably they are still taking drugs)
The present perfect continuous tense can be used to indicate an action that started at the time when another different past action was done. This kind of sentence construction involves "since"/"ever since". Note that the other different past action is indicated by the simple past tense. Pay attention to the other different past action in italics as you read these examples.
The roof has been leaking since we moved into the house. (the roof is still leaking)
Laura has been pestering her mum to buy her a puppy ever since she saw her cousin's pet dog. (Laura is still pestering her mum and hasn't got her puppy yet)
How do we construct questions that involve the present perfect continuous tense?
The words 'has'/'have' can be used to begin your questions. Examples:
Answer: Betty has been applying for jobs lately.
Question: Has Betty been applying for jobs lately?
Answer: The water pipes have been leaking since they moved into the premises.
Question: Have the water pipes been leaking since they moved into the premises?
The question word "what" may also be used to begin your questions. Read these short conversations.
Mr Lee : What has Monica been doing lately?
Mrs Lee : She has been learning ballet.
Adam : What have the children been doing since yesterday afternoon?
Alice : They have been trying to solve the jigsaw puzzle.
The present perfect continuous tense can also be used to indicate an action that happened in the past. It is important NOT to mention any specified past time or any specified length of time, otherwise your sentence will be grammatically incorrect.
For example: Imagine you are now talking to your Uncle Bob who likes drinking beer. A very strong smell of beer is coming from his mouth. You can use the present perfect continuous tense to ask him a question like this:
Have you been drinking beer, Uncle Bob? (correct)
Have you been drinking beer just now? (incorrect) (just now shows specified past time)
Remember not to include a specified past time and you won't get it wrong.
After you've picked up the present perfect continuous tense, your next task is to get to know the past perfect continuous tense. Compare these two different perfect continuous tenses and get to know their different usage.
Click on "References" to view the past perfect continuous tense.
The present perfect continuous tense is not the same as the present continuous tense or the present perfect tense. Therefore, it is important to know how and when to use the present perfect continuous tense, the present continuous tense and the present perfect tense because each tense indicates a different action. Read and compare these three sentences. Do they convey the same repairing action?
Sentence 1 The mechanic has been repairing Tom's car for days.
(present perfect continuous tense)
Sentence 2 The mechanic is repairing Tom's car now.
(present continuous tense)
Sentence 3 The mechanic has repaired Tom's car.
(present perfect tense)
Sentence 1 involves the present perfect continuous tense and conveys the idea that the mechanic started to repair Tom's car some time in the past and subsequently he continued to repair the car till present and most probably he is still repairing the car at the time of speaking. There is no indication of the actual specified length of time. The phrase "for days" does not convey any idea about the actual number of days.
Sentence 2 involves the present continuous tense and conveys the idea that the mechanic is repairing Tom's car at the time of speaking but it does not indicate when the mechanic started to repair the car.
Sentence 3 involves the present perfect tense and conveys the idea that the mechanic is no longer repairing Tom's car. The action of repairing is finished and Tom's car is no longer faulty.
Therefore, you can see that these three tenses indicate different actions. If you are not familiar with them, you might convey the wrong idea to your listeners!
The present perfect continuous tense can be used to indicate an action that started sometime in the past and subsequently it continued to go on till now and most probably it is still going on at the time of speaking. In this kind of sentence construction there is no indication of the actual specified length of time. Words such as "for hours"/"lately"/"quite some time" do not indicate the actual specified length of time. Examples:
The phone has been ringing for hours. (there is no indication of how many hours)
Our customers have been complaining about the faulty products lately. ("lately" indicates not very long ago, but does not indicate how long ago)
We have been receiving anonymous phone calls for quite some time. ("quite some time" does not indicate how long "some time" is)
The present perfect continuous tense can also be used to indicate an action that started from a specified past time and that action went on till now and most probably that action is still going on at the time of speaking. This kind of sentence construction involves the preposition "since". Pay attention to the specified past time as you read the examples.
We have been waiting for Mr Lee's phone call since ten o'clock this morning. (we're still waiting for Mr Lee's phone call)
Nancy and her classmates have been doing revision since last Monday. (Nancy and her classmates are still doing revision)
Mr Lucas has been planning to start his own business since 2006. (Mr Lucas is still planning to start his own business)
The present perfect continuous tense can also be used to indicate an action that has gone for a specified length of time and subsequently it continued to go on till now and most probably it is still going on at the time of speaking. The kind of sentence construction involves the preposition "for". Examples:
Tom has been talking on the phone for 20 minutes. (most probably Tom is still talking on the phone)
They have been taking drugs for almost 2 months. (most probably they are still taking drugs)
The present perfect continuous tense can be used to indicate an action that started at the time when another different past action was done. This kind of sentence construction involves "since"/"ever since". Note that the other different past action is indicated by the simple past tense. Pay attention to the other different past action in italics as you read these examples.
The roof has been leaking since we moved into the house. (the roof is still leaking)
Laura has been pestering her mum to buy her a puppy ever since she saw her cousin's pet dog. (Laura is still pestering her mum and hasn't got her puppy yet)
How do we construct questions that involve the present perfect continuous tense?
The words 'has'/'have' can be used to begin your questions. Examples:
Answer: Betty has been applying for jobs lately.
Question: Has Betty been applying for jobs lately?
Answer: The water pipes have been leaking since they moved into the premises.
Question: Have the water pipes been leaking since they moved into the premises?
The question word "what" may also be used to begin your questions. Read these short conversations.
Mr Lee : What has Monica been doing lately?
Mrs Lee : She has been learning ballet.
Adam : What have the children been doing since yesterday afternoon?
Alice : They have been trying to solve the jigsaw puzzle.
The present perfect continuous tense can also be used to indicate an action that happened in the past. It is important NOT to mention any specified past time or any specified length of time, otherwise your sentence will be grammatically incorrect.
For example: Imagine you are now talking to your Uncle Bob who likes drinking beer. A very strong smell of beer is coming from his mouth. You can use the present perfect continuous tense to ask him a question like this:
Have you been drinking beer, Uncle Bob? (correct)
Have you been drinking beer just now? (incorrect) (just now shows specified past time)
Remember not to include a specified past time and you won't get it wrong.
After you've picked up the present perfect continuous tense, your next task is to get to know the past perfect continuous tense. Compare these two different perfect continuous tenses and get to know their different usage.
Click on "References" to view the past perfect continuous tense.
By Susan L
On 12/07/2009 06:07:00 AM
0 Comment(s)
View More Articles... On 12/07/2009 06:07:00 AM
0 Comment(s)
> grammar Articles
> Next English Article
> Previous English Article
> English Upgrade Home
Quick Links to English Upgrade Articles...
Rare Irregular Verbs Table |
Common Phrasal Verbs |
Solingo Flash Game |
Regular and Irregular Verbs |
Writing Ordinal Numbers |
Using Adjectives ending in ly |
Using Idiomatic Expressions |
Active And Passive Sentences Exercise |
Question Tags |
Different English Tenses Reference |
Using Look Forward To |
Countable Singular/Plural Nouns Table |
English Upgrade for English Users
Welcome to English Upgrade! Hi, I'm Susan. This blog contains notes, exercises, language games, etc. It is very suitable for English users who wish to improve their grammatical accuracy. Do visit this blog frequently to view the latest posts.
Connect With English Upgrade!
Info
© Copyright 2010 by Susan L.All rights to the notes and posts on EnglishUpgrade.blogspot.com belong to Susan L.
Flash games and videos posted on this blog belong to their respective authors.