Resource centre English grammar teaching present perfect continuous

Present perfect continuous

Form

Functions and examples

1. We use the present perfect continuous to talk about an action or event that started in the past and is still happening now.

I've been waiting for over an hour. (I'm still waiting now)
It's been snowing since 8am. (It's still snowing now)
You've been playing a lot of tennis recently.


2. We often use "How long" in questions.

How long have you been learning English? (You started learning in the past and are still learning now)

* We use the present perfect continuous to talk about an activity or event that has recently finished and has a result now.
She's tired because she's been working hard.
I have no money left because I've been shopping.


3. We use the present perfect continuous to focus on the action and not on the completion of the action.

She's been writing a book. (focus on the action)
She's written a book. (present perfect simple - focus on the result)
They've been negotiating the contract. (focus on the action, it's not important if it's finished or not)
They've negotiated the contract. (present perfect simple - focus on the result, the negotiation is finished)

Important points

1. When the action or event is more temporary, we often use the present perfect continuous, and when it is more permanent, we often use the present perfect simple.

They've lived in Italy for may years. (Present perfect simple)
I've been living here for a month. (Present perfect continuous)


2. Some verbs are not normally used in the present perfect continuous tense. These verbs include: believe, belong, depend, hate, know, like, love, mean, need, prefer, realise, suppose, want, understand.

I've known him for ten years. P
I've been knowing him for ten years. x
I've belonged to the tennis club for 25 years. P
I've been belonging to the tennis club for 25 years. x


See also  Present perfect simple  |  Past simple

Teaching Present perfect continuous

•   I usually draw a time line on the board about something I started doing in the past and on the other end I write now, then I present the sentence. for example:
  
  I started working here in 2004, I am working here now.
  I have been working here for 2 years.
  
  Then I have the students try to form sentences using the structure."
  Salvador
  
•   Any effective exercise which emphasises the time elapsed between the action starting and continuing in the present. I use a clock which can be easily adjusted. On the board I write:
  
  It's 4pm now - cooking
  
  I set the time on the clock to 2pm and say:
  
  I started cooking at this time, how long have I been cooking?
  
  I use as many examples of verb and time settings as I think necessary. This can also incorporate the functions of 'since' (point in time in the past) and 'for' (length of time from beginning to continuation."
  Andrew
  
•   I tried an enjoyable activity which I can recommend. Put the students in a group and tell them to form a circle. They will make guesses about the student on their left:
  
  "I think you have been wearing that bracelet for 1 week."
  
  and the student answers:
  
  "No, I have been wearing it for 2 days." and so on.
  
  You can also encourage them to use "how long..." questions. Try it and let me know your ideas :)"
  Hande
  
•   Show pictures of people to students and get them to think of ideas of what that person has been doing. The students need to form sentences using the present perfect continuous."
  Sarah
  
•   You can also try the song In the shadows - by the Rasmus."
  Ofelya
  

•  Send to a friend
• Share this