The Present Perfect
Continuous
When do we use this tense?
1) The present perfect continuous is used
when we want to emphasize duration!
Example:
She has been writing for two hours.
When do we use this tense?
2) The present perfect continuous is used for
an action that began in the past and is still
going on.
Example:
I have been living in Yoqneam since 2006.
When do we use this tense?
3) The present perfect continuous is used for
an action that began in the past and whose
effects are in the present.
Example:
He has been studying all afternoon (He is
tired now).
Form of the present perfect
continuous
subject + have/has+ been + V4
She has been writing for two hours.
I have been living here since 2007.
Present Perfect Continuous
forms:
Positive: Subject + have/has + been + V4
Negative: Subject + have/has + not + been + V4
Y/N Question: Have/has + subject + been + V4
WH Question: WH + have/has + subject + been + V4
Using “since” or “for”
• since – if the starting point is given (two
o’clock, last Friday, 1998)
• for – if the period of time is given (twenty
minutes, two days, one year)
Differences between the
present perfect simple and
continuous
Guess what? There is not real big
difference between the two!
However…..
(1) When we emphasize the
ACTION we use the continuous
form:
Example: We have been working
hard for two months!
Example: She has been having a
hard time.
(2) When we emphasize the RESULT
of the action, we use the simple
form:
Example: He has made fifteen phone
calls this morning!
Example: She has written a fabulous
novel.
(3) When an action is finished and
you can SEE THE RESULTS, use the
continuous form:
Example: You're red in the face. Have
you been running?
Example: The phone bill is enormous.
You've been calling your boyfriend in
Australia, haven't you?
(4) When you use the words
‘EVER'or‘NEVER', use the simple
form:
Example: I don’t know them. I have
never met them before!
Example: Have you ever heard of
anything so strange in your life?
Waiting For a Girl Like You
Foreigner
song
The Past Perfect
Continuous
When is it used?
1)The past perfect continuous is used when
we talk about actions or situations in the
past that lasted up to another action in the
past.
Example:
The boys had been fighting for two hours
when we arrived.
When is it used?
2)The past perfect continuous is used to
show the results of a continuous action in
the past.
Example:
Julie was sunburnt because she had been
lying in the sun for a long time.
How is it formed?
subject + had + been + V4
Example:
The boys had been fighting for two
hours when we arrived.
Past Perfect Continuous forms:
Positive: Subject + had + been + V4
Negative: Subject + had + not + been + V4
Y/N Question: Had + subject + been + V4
WH Question: WH + had + subject + been + V4