Present Perfect Continuous Tense

A. Definition of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

          Present perfect tense is one of the tensis used to show the present time where the events or events that have occurred have occurred in the past but still continue in the present time. Consider again the example above. In the example 'It has been raining all day. I am tired of it 'refers to the rain that happened in the past and still continues until the time it is discussed.

B. Present Perfect Contionuous Tense Formula

         Below is the present perfect continuous tense formula for three types of sentences, namely positive sentences, negative sentences and question sentences.

Positive (+)
Subject + Have / has + Been + Ving + Object
Example:
I have been sitting here since seven o'clock.
They have been studying English for five straight hours.
He has been working here for ten years.

Negative (-)
Subject + Have / has + Not + Been + Ving + Object
Example:
 I have not been sitting here since seven o'clock.
 They have not been studying English for five straight hours.
 He has not been working here for ten years.

Interrogative (?)
Have / has + Subject + Been + Ving + Object
Example:
Have you been sitting here since seven o'clock?
Have they been studying English for five straight hours.
Has he been working here for ten years.


*Information

 Subject is the doer
 Have / has is an auxiliary verb which 'have' is used for the subject 'They, we, I, you' and 'has' is used for the subject 'he, she, it'.
 Ving is a verb that gets the affix -ing; 'raining', 'reading', 'waiting' and so on.
 An object is something that is subject to a verb.


C. Use of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

           Returning to the explanation above regarding the meaning of present perfect continuous tense, in fact we have interesting when actually present perfect continuous tense is used.

1. Present perfect continuous tense is used to address an event or activity that began in the past and continues until the time it is discussed.
Example:

    I have been working very hard recently.
    It has been raining all day. I am tired of it.
    Petrol prices have been going up steadily all this year.


2. Present perfect continuous tense is used to state an event or activity that has just stopped but with the results that appear when discussed.
Example:

    You look hot. ~ Yes, I have been running.
    Sorry, I am late. Have you been waiting long?
    I must just go and wash. I have been gardening.


3. Present perfect continuous tense can also be used to state the events or activities that occur repeatedly with a more specific time.
Example:

    People have been calling me all day.
    I have been waking up in the night a lot. I think I will see the doctor


4. Present perfect continuous tense is usually used with time adverbs which indicate continuation such as 'recently, lately, this week, since, for.'
Example:

    The firm has been losing money recently.
    John has been walking in Scotland all this week.
    I have been doing a new job since January.
    It has been raining for the last three days.


5. Present perfect continuous tense is used to ask 'How long' (How long ...) the event or activity lasts.
Example:

    How long have you been studying English? (I have been studying English for five years.).
    How long have you been living here? (I have been living here since 1991.)

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