Present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action that began in the past and stopped recently. There is usually a result now.
We also use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that began in the past and is continuing now. This is often used with for or since.
• Structure for Present Perfect Continuous •
subject
auxiliary verb
auxiliary verb
main verb
subject
has/have
been
base+ing
They
have
been
going.
• Structure for Negative sentence •
subject
auxiliary verb
auxiliary verb
main verb
subject
has/have
not + been
base+ing
They
have
not been
going.
• Structure for interrogative sentence •
auxiliary verb
subject
auxiliary verb
main verb
Has/Have
subject
been
base+ing
Have
they
been
going?
The duration for which the action has been going on is usually mentioned in the present perfect continuous tense.
We use the present perfect continuous tense for:
An action that has just stopped or recently stopped.
An action continuing up to now.
USES OF PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
The Present Perfect Continuous is used for an action which began at some time in the past and is still continuing:
Examples
He has been sleeping for five hours (and is still sleeping).
They have been building the bridge for several months.
They have been playing since four o’clock.
This tense is sometimes used for an action already finished. In such cases the continuity of the activity is emphasized as an explanation of something:
Examples
Why are your clothes so wet’?, - I have been watering the garden.
I am tired because I have been playing.
We can also use 'for' and 'since' with the present perfect tense.
We use 'for' to talk about a period of time - 15 minutes, 3 weeks, 5 years.
Examples
I have been studying for 2 hours.
Jenifer hasn't been feeling well for 3 weeks.
He has been playing cricket for a long time.
We use 'since' to talk about a point in past time-7 o'clock, 1st June, Wednesday.
Examples
I have been watching TV since 8pm.
Alex hasn't been visiting us since August.
He has been living in London since he left school.
