The present perfect continuous tense expresses an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present. It is formed by using “have/has been” + ing form of verb.
(1) Positive sentence:
Formula: [Subject + have/has + been + ing form of verb + object]
Example:
- They have been playing soccer for two hours.
- She has been studying English every day.
- We have been working on the project together.
- He has been practicing the guitar for months.
- I have been writing a novel for a while.
(2) Negative sentence:
Formula: [Subject + have/has + not (haven’t/hasn’t)+ been + ing form of verb + object]
Example:
- They have not been studying for the test.
- She has not been attending the meetings regularly.
- We haven’t been exercising lately.
- He hasn’t been practicing his dancing skills.
- I have not been cooking dinner recently.
(3) Interrogative:
Formula: [Have/Has + subject + been + ing form of verb + object?]
Example:
- Have they been playing basketball this season?
- Has he been traveling abroad?
- Have we been waiting for a long time?
- Have they been working on the assignment together?
- Has she been reading that book?
(4) Interrogative Negative:
Formula: [Have/Has + subject + not + been + ing form of verb + object +?]OR[Haven’t/Hasn’t + subject + been + ing form of verb + object+?]
Example:
- Have they not been studying for the exam? (or) Haven’t they been studying for the exam?
- Has he not been working on the project all week? (or) Hasn’t he been working on the project all week?
- Have we not been practicing the piano for hours? (or) Haven’t we been practicing the piano for hours?
- Haven’t they been learning Spanish for six months? (or) Haven’t they been learning Spanish for six months?
- Hasn’t she been painting a beautiful picture? (or) Hasn’t she been painting a beautiful picture?
(5) Wh-Word form:
[Question Word + have/has + subject + been + ing form of verb + object?]
Example:
- What have you been doing all day?
- Where has he been traveling recently?
- How long have they been waiting for the bus?
- Why have you been avoiding me lately?
- Who has been helping you with the project?