Present Perfect Continuous

Have you been wondering about the Present Perfect Continuous? Well, here are some things you should know:
It looks like this: HAVE/HAS + BEEN + PAST PARTICIPLE

Now, click here: Andrea's Present Perfect Continuous Google Doc

(This page compares it in form to the present perfect, looks at contractions, negative forms, and questions)

While Present Perfect Continuous is used much less than the present perfect (see earlier blog post for all you need to know about that one!), it is still a good tense to be familiar with. It IS something we do need to use in certain situations.

Compare these sentences:

• She studied English for 10 years.
• I have studied English for ten years.
• I have been studying together for three hours.

Then, consider this:

• Which actions are complete/finished?
• Which sentences talk about big/long life events?
• Which sentences talk about actions that started in the past and are still happening?
• Which action is shorter (in duration) than the others?

Now, compare these sentences:

• She worked in a bank when she was in college.
• She has worked in a medical office.
• She has been working in Denmark a lot recently, and speaks Danish now.

And consider this:

• In which sentences do we know WHEN the event happened?
• Which are events that happened ONCE in the past, but we don’t know when?
• Which event happened repeatedly and continued happening until the present (or very recently?)
• Which past action had an effect on the present?

Now you are curious, right?? Good

Now click here: Rules for Present Perfect Continuous

(Here you will find out the answers to these questions– and learn some clear rules for using the present perfect continuous!)

For some basic practice with form, try these:

 

• Practice 1
• Practice 2
• Practice 3
• Practice 4
• Practice 5

Now, for practice comparing it to the present perfect and the past simple try these great exercises:

 

• Practice 6
• Practice 7
• Practice 8 (5 exercises on the bottom of the page!)
• Practice 9 (11 exercises and 2 tests on the bottom of the page!)
• Practice 10 (8 exercises on the bottom of the page!)
• Practice 11

I hope you have enjoyed this. I have been having a lot of fun compiling this blog for you!