Writing with Tenses / Present Perfect Continuous
LESSON 81 OF 261 · 6 MIN READ

Present Perfect Continuous — Introduction and Verb Forms

Understand the time relationship and choose the required verb form.

Introduction

Describe an activity continuing from the past to now, or a recently stopped activity with present evidence. Focus on activity and duration.

When and why

Continuing activity: I have been learning English for two months.
Recent evidence: The ground is wet. It has been raining.
Repeated recent activity: She has been practising football lately.
State verbs such as know normally use the perfect simple: I have known her for years.

Formula

Subject + have/has been + V4

Required verb form

been + V4 — I/you/we/they → have been; he/she/it → has been.

Examples

Rahul has been studying for three weeks.

Rahul has not been sleeping well lately.

Ask WH questions in this tense

WH + have/has + subject + been + V4 ...?
How long has she been studying?
Where have they been working?
Choose what, where, when, why, which, whose or how for the information needed. How many asks about countable quantities; how much about amounts; how often about frequency; how long about duration. A subject question can keep normal order: Who works here? Do not add do just because a WH word appears.

Find and correct errors

Read the context, identify the verb phrase and check the required form. Try the correction activities below. A wrong attempt gives a hint; stronger hints follow, and an example is available only on request after repeated attempts.

Learn this tense, then use it

  1. Introduction, concept and use
  2. Formula and required verb form
  3. Positive and negative sentences
  4. Yes/no and WH questions
  5. Uses and time expressions
  6. Common mistakes and correction practice below
  7. MCQ practice, picture sentences and scenario writing
  8. Guided paragraph and topic test
Read the existing lessons for each part

Formula: Subject + have/has been + V4

Verb form: been + V4

Use this rule: write and correct

Try first. Hints become more specific after each attempt. Your attempts and corrections are saved with your existing writing progress.

Enlarged practice scene
TRY IT YOURSELF

A quick check

A wrong answer is a chance to learn. Use the hint and try again.