PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOS

FORM

[has/have + been + verbo +ing]

Examples:

• You have been waiting here for two hours.
• Have you been waiting here for two hours?
• You have not been waiting here for two hours.

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous.

Examples:

• They have been talking for the last hour.
• She has been working at that company for three years.
• What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
• James has been teaching at the university since June.
• We have been waiting here for over two hours!
• Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.

Examples:

• Recently, I have been feeling really tired.
• She has been watching too much television lately.
• Have you been exercising lately?
• Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
• Lisa has not been practicing her English.
• What have you been doing?

IMPORTANT

Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has the meaning of "lately" or "recently." If you use the Present Perfect Continuous in a question such as "Have you been feeling alright?", it can suggest that the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you been smoking?" can suggest that you smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests you can see, smell, hear or feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult someone by using this tense incorrectly.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Perfect Continuous with these verbs, you must use Present Perfect.

Examples:

• Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct
• Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

• You have only been waiting here for one hour.
• Have you only been waiting here for one hour?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• Recently, John has been doing the work. Active
• Recently, the work has been being done by John. Passive

NOTE: Present Perfect Continuous is less commonly used in its passive form.
More About Active / Passive Forms

1.- Present perfect continuous

Esta forma verbal se emplea cuando interesa destacar la acción en sí misma más que el resultado; no se precisa si la acción ha finalizado o no (la acción comenzó en el pasado y puede que acabe de terminar o que incluso continúe).

Este tiempo se utiliza también para indicar la duración de una acción que comenzó en el pasado (y que acaba de finalizar o aún continúa).

El empleo de este tiempo indica que el emisor considera que la duración ha sido larga.

2.- Present perfect simple

Describe una acción que comenzó en el pasado y que acaba de finalizar. Pone el énfasis en el resultado y no en la acción en si misma.

En el siguiente ejemplo se puede observar la diferencia entre estas dos formas verbales:

Se utiliza también para indicar cuantas acciones se han realizado en un tiempo determinado.

El empleo de este tiempo informa indirectamente sobre el presente, ya que conlleva que la situación no ha cambiado.

Si no se da información sobre el presente hay que utilizar el "past simple".

I have been playing tennis for two hours
I have been waiting for him for 1 hour (puede que la otra persona acabe de llegar o que yo aún siga esperando; el contexto determinará un sentido u otro)

I have been reading a book (resalto lo que he estado haciendo; no indico si he finalizado el libro o no)

He went to Canada (no se informa de si él sigue allí o ya volvió)
I broke my leg (puede que la pierna ya esté curada o que aún siga rota)

He has gone to Canada (esta persona sigue en Canda o está de viaje hacia allí; en cualquier caso todavía no ha regresado)
I have broken my leg (la pierna sigue rota; aún no ha sanado)

Today I have read ten books

I have done my homework (indico que ya lo he finalizado)
I have been doing my homework (indico la actividad que he estado desarrollando; no informo de si he terminado mis deberes o no)

I have read a book (destaco que he leído un libro, que lo he terminado, y no el hecho de haber dedicado un tiempo a la lectura).

 PARA FOR Y SINCE
EJERCICIO 1         EJERCICIO 2           EJERCICIO 3        EJERCICIO 4

PARA YET, JUST, ALREADY, EVER, NEVER.....
EJERCICIO 1         EJERCICIO 2           EJERCICIO 3      EJERCICIO 4      EJERCICIO 5

EXERCISE:  Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuos

Más ejercicios de PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOS
PRESENT PERFECT AND CONTINUOUS