The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that started in the past, have been ongoing, and are still happening at the time of speaking. It emphasizes the duration or continuous nature of the action. This tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “have” or “has” (depending on the subject), followed by “been,” and then the verb’s present participle form (-ing form). It is often used with time expressions that indicate the duration of the action.
(A) In the present perfect continuous tense, “have been” is used with the subjects (“I,” “we,” “you,” “they” “plural name”), and “has been” is used with the subjects (“he,” “she,” “it” “singular name”). Here are examples of how “have been” and “has been” are used in the present perfect continuous tense:
(1) “Have been” with plural subjects:
Examples:
- I have been watching movies since morning.
- We have been working on this project for hours.
- They have been studying English for a long time.
- You have been practicing the piano since this morning.
(2) “Has been” with singular subjects:
Examples:
- He has been waiting for a phone call all day.
- She has been learning to cook new recipes recently.
- It has been raining heavily since yesterday.
The combination of “have” or “has” with “been” forms the helping verb in the present perfect continuous tense, indicating that the action has been ongoing up until the present moment.
(B) Creating the “-ing” Form:
To create the “-ing” form of a verb, follow these guidelines:
(1) Regular Verbs:
For regular verbs, simply add “-ing” to the base form (infinitive) of the verb.
Example:
- talk + ing = talking
- play + ing = playing
- cook + ing = cooking
- dance + ing = dancing
- sing + ing = singing
(2) Verbs ending in “e”:
If a verb ends in “e,” drop the “e” and add “-ing” to form the present participle.
Example:
- bake – e + ing = baking
- ride – e + ing = riding
- smile -e + ing = smiling
- hike – e + ing = hiking
- dive – e + ing = diving
(3) Verbs with “ee” or “oe” at the end:
If a verb ends with “ee” or “oe,” add “-ing” without any changes.
Examples:
- agree + ing = agreeing
- flee + ing = fleeing
- hoe + ing = hoeing
- pee + ing = peeing
- foresee + ing = foreseeing
(4) Verbs ending in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern:
If a verb ends in a consonant-vowel-consonant pattern and is stressed on the final syllable, double the final consonant before adding “-ing.”
Example:
- swim + m + ing = swimming
- cut + t + ing = cutting
- sit + t + ing = sitting
- get + t + ing = getting
- put + t + ing = putting
(5) Verbs ending in “w,” “x,” or “y”:
For verbs ending in “w,” “x,” or “y,” simply add “ing” to form the past continuous tense.
Examples:
- Bow + ing = Bowing
- Mix + ing = Mixing
- Play + ing = Playing
- Enjoy + ing = Enjoying
- Employ + ing = Employing
(6) Verbs ending in “ie”:
If a verb ends in “ie,” change the “ie” to “y” and add “-ing.”
Example:
- die – ie + y + ing = dying
- tie – ie + y + ing = tying
- lie – ie + y + ing = lying
- vie – ie + y + ing = vying
- untie – ie + y + ing = untying
(7) Verbs ending in “y”:
If a verb ends in “y” and the “y” is preceded by a consonant, simply add “-ing” to create the “-ing” form.
Example:
- try + ing = trying
- fly + ing = flying
- carry + ing = carrying
- cry + ing = crying
- apply + ing = applying
(C) Since vs For
“Since” and “for” are used to indicate the duration of time in the present perfect continuous tense.
(1) “Since” is used to specify the starting point of an action or event that is still ongoing. It is followed by a specific point in time (a moment or a specific time) or a clause.
Examples of “since” in present perfect continuous tense:
- I have been studying since 9 a.m.
- She has been working on the project since last month.
- They have been living in that house since 2010.
- He has been playing the guitar since he was a child.
- We have been waiting for the bus since it started raining.
(2) “For” is used to indicate the duration of time an action or event has been going on. It is followed by a length of time (a period or a specific duration).
Examples of “for” in present perfect continuous tense:
- I have been studying for three hours.
- She has been working on the project for a week.
- They have been living in that house for ten years.
- He has been playing the guitar for a long time.
- We have been waiting for the bus for over an hour.
In summary, “since” is used to indicate the starting point of an action or event, while “for” is used to specify the duration of time in the present perfect continuous tense.