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Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Continuous

Date: Oct 03 2007

Topic: Grammar

Author: rhyme_reason

Lesson

This tense is used to talk about an action or actions that started in the past and continued until recently or that continue into the future:
We can use it to refer to an action that has finished but you can still see evidence.

  • Oh, the kitchen is a mess. Who has been cooking?
  • You look tired. Have you been sleeping properly?
  • I've got a a stiff neck. I've been working too long on computer.

It can refer to an action that has not finished.

  • I've been learning Spanish for 20 years and I still don't know very much.
  • I've been waiting for him for 30 minutes and he still hasn't arrived.
  • He's been telling me about it for days. I wish he would stop.

It can refer to a series of actions.

  • She's been writing to her regularly for a couple of years.
  • He's been phoning me all week for an answer.
  • The university has been sending students here for over twenty years to do work experience.

The present perfect continuous is often used with 'since', 'for', 'all week', 'for days', 'lately', 'recently', 'over the last few months'.

  • I've been wanting to do that for ten years.
  • You haven't been getting good results over the last few months.
  • They haven't been working all week. They're on strike
  • He hasn't been talking to me for weeks.
  • We've been working hard on it for ages.
  • I've been looking at other options recently.
  • He's been working here since 2001.

Comments

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kalem2035

kalem2035

Mexico

thanks for the tips now i can identify it faster

08:31 PM Apr 21 2009 |

DR.SHEVA

Egypt

thanks alot that was really useful to me

 

07:16 PM Apr 21 2009 |

slowly_1415

Myanmar

can some girl help me how to learn english fast

05:08 PM Apr 20 2009 |

slowly_1415

Myanmar

thanks to all

04:29 PM Apr 20 2009 |

Bobe

Lebanon

thanks

10:40 AM Apr 20 2009 |

manoach

manoach

Thailand

thank for you to me understand more

 

07:35 AM Apr 20 2009 |

lucky不可爱

lucky不可爱

China

thanks a lot..for your explain

04:44 AM Apr 20 2009 |

eflatun23

eflatun23

Turkey

thanks…..

02:22 PM Apr 18 2009 |

fadimehan

Turkey

thanks a lot ıt was very good

05:23 AM Apr 18 2009 |

tolerant

tolerant

Turkey

Thanks for the lessons

07:07 AM Apr 15 2009 |

modmmah

modmmah

Malaysia

LaughingI thanks for this

I`ve been watch yestrday

04:44 AM Apr 14 2009 |

k.kailash

India

hey rocky.

present continous tense :  i am cooking.  i.e. the action is a continuous process in the present time/day/

present perfect continuous tense:  is an action started in the past and continues in the present.  it has a starting point/period/day in the past and the process is still in action in the present day.

i have been using this purse since my childhood.

hope i am clear.

kailash 

 

11:31 AM Apr 12 2009 |

michelle khaled

Algeria

...;I have cooking?

...;you have sleep…

...;I have work long on computer

 

05:27 PM Apr 10 2009 |

modmmah

modmmah

Malaysia

thanks u Cool add me

08:31 AM Apr 09 2009 |

rocky_wf

India

what is the difference between present continuous and present perfect continuous? could anyone clear me…

03:09 PM Apr 03 2009 |

Mahliyo

Uzbekistan

 Hi everybody!Smile

08:13 AM Apr 03 2009 |

qib209

United States

Hi everyone and hows everyone schools and works.

01:36 AM Mar 31 2009 |

michelle khaled

Algeria

salame

realy thancks

 

09:02 PM Mar 27 2009 |

Laleta

Laleta

Lebanon

thanks

03:52 PM Mar 26 2009 |

SÉRGIO

SÉRGIO

Brazil

Cool!!

07:30 PM Mar 25 2009 |

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