Present Perfect Progressive

The Present Perfect Progressive Tense Explained with Examples

The Present perfect progressive tense (or Present perfect continuous tense, as it’s also known) shows action that has been continuously happening up to the present moment.

We use this verb tense to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now; or that an action has been happening over time until now. Simply put, the present perfect progressive has the meaning of lately or recently.

The present perfect progressive tense is usually combined with a length of time phraseOpens in new window (such as, and etc.) to indicate action that started in the past and continues to the present.

See Practical Examples

• I’ve been

  cleaning

  my house .

• Gretchen has been

  reading

  noon.

• We’ve been

  waiting

  for Andy over an hour.

Perhaps you have studied and understood the meaning of present perfect tenseOpens in new window, you might be wondering, “How come! present perfect progressive seems to have the same meaning as .”

You’re right, present perfect with a length of time almost always means the same as present perfect progressive. That raises some questions: “Are present perfect and present perfect progressive always the same? And if they’re not, You’ll find the answers to these questions down below.

How to Use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

1.  Expression of Affirmative Statements with Present Perfect Continuous — To make affirmative statement with present perfect continuous tense, the Structure: Subject + has/have + been + verb–ing (form) is used.

See Practical Examples

• Andy has been

  thinking

  about getting a new car.

• Laurel and Benson have been

  remodeling

  their garage.

• We’ve been

  studying

  verb tenses for so long that now we’re beginning to have gray hair.

2.  Expression of Negative Statements with Present Perfect Continuous Tense — To make negative statement with present perfect continuous tense, the Structure: Subject + has/have + not been + verb–ing (form) is used. The Contraction form: Subject + hasn’t/haven’t + not been + verb–ing(form) is also used.

See Practical Examples

• Andy has not been

  spending

  time with his family since he started a part time course.

• Lola hasn’t been

  using

  her favorite car recently.

• Mum and Dad have not been

  going

  to church together.

3.  Expression of Interrogative Statements with Present Perfect Continuous Tense — To make interrogative statement using present perfect continuous tense, the Structure: (interrogative word) + have/has + subject + been + verb–ing (form) is used.

See Practical Examples

• Has Andy been attending English classes?

• has Lola been taking dancing practices?

• have they been avoiding one another?

4.  Expression of Negative Interrogative statements with Present Perfect Continuous Tense. — To make negative interrogative statement using present perfect continuous tense, the Structure: (interrogative word) + have/has not + subject + been + verb–ing (form) is used. However, the Contracted Form: () + haven’t/hasn’t + subject + been + verb–ing (form) is sometimes preferred.

See Practical Examples

• Has Andy been attending English classes?

• Have they been avoiding one another?

• Has Lola been taking dancing practices?

Note that the Interrogatives are rarely used in formal contexts. Chances are you will seldom have needs to use them.

What’s this?

Difference between Present Perfect Progressive Tense and Present Perfect Tense

The biggest difference between these two tenses lies in the fact that present perfect is a bit of a headache because it has more than three different meanings depending on the time phrase it is used with, but present perfect progressive, on the other hand, has only one meaning.

Present Perfect Tense: Variation of Meanings

Now we can observe the meanings of present perfect tense:

Meaning #1

• Ms. Allyson has taught BUS 211

(When we use

present perfect + a length of time

, it means the action started in the past and has continued until now.)

Meaning #2

• Ms. Allyson has taught BUS 211.

(This sentence has a different meaning. When we use

present perfect without a time phrase

, it means the action ended in the past, but the time is not clear.)

Meaning #3

• Ms. Allyson has taught BUS 211 today.

(This sentence also has a different meaning. When we use

present perfect with a time phrase

that includes the present, it means about the same as the simple past.)

Present perfect progressive on the other hand, is straightforward and simple. It only has one meaning; it always means this action has been happening over time until now (or almost until now).

With present perfect, we always need to use a length of time to show it is present perfect. But with present perfect progressive, it doesn’t matter if we use a time phrase or not; it always means the same thing.

Examples of Present perfect progressive tense

• I have been working on the plant since last month.

(This action has been happening over time until now.)

• I have been working on the plant.

(This action has been happening over time until now.)

• I have been working on the plant today.

(This action has been happening over time until now.)

When it’s ideal to use present perfect progressive tense

As we learned earlier, present perfect progressive has the same meaning as present perfect, so we can often use either one and still have the same meaning.

Comparative Examples:

Present Perfect

• I have taught at St. Mary’s Anglican School for eight years.

Present Perfect Progressive

• I have been teaching at St. Mary’s Anglican School for eight years.

These two sentences mean the same thing: The described action has been happening over time until now.

Present Perfect

• Andy has worked in the same store for several innumerable years.

Present Perfect Progressive

• Andy has been working in the same store for several innumerable years.

These two sentences mean the same thing: The described action has been happening over time until now.

simple-rule

Simple Rule for Using Present Perfect Progressive.

When an action started in the past and has continued until now:

• use present perfect progressive for most verbs
• use

  present perfect + a length of time

  for stative verbs.

See Practical Examples:

• Ms. Allyson has been teaching BUS 211 since she was 22.

()

• Ever since he was a child, Effiong has believed in treating others kindly.

()

• George has been trying to fix that toaster for hours.

()

• Afam has known Effiong since they were both twelve.

()

It would be great if we could always use either tense, but unfortunately, sometimes only one sounds correct to native speakers (for example, the sentence, “Cassius has eaten dinner for an hour” sounds wrong.)

When should we use present perfect progressive and when should we use present perfect meaning #2?

The actual rule for this is complicated, but if you follow this simpler rule, you’ll always be okay. (If you really want to follow the whole episode of this study, click on this link for “MORE THAN THE SIMPLE RULE.” Opens in new window

Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect continuous (also called present perfect progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show that an action started in the past and has continued up to the present moment. The present perfect continuous usually emphasizes duration, or the amount of time that an action has been taking place. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and present perfect continuous exercises.

Present Perfect Continuous Forms

The present perfect continuous is formed using has/have + been + present participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and has/have. Negatives are made with not.

• Statement:

  You have been waiting here for two hours.

• Question:

  Have you been waiting here for two hours?

• Negative:

  You have not been waiting here for two hours.

Complete List of Present Perfect Continuous Forms

Present Perfect Continuous Uses

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the present perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. “For five minutes,” “for two weeks,” and “since Tuesday” are all durations which can be used with the present perfect continuous.

Examples:

• They have been talking for the last hour.
• She has been working at that company for three years.
• What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
• James has been teaching at the university since June.
• We have been waiting here for over two hours!
• Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the present perfect continuous WITHOUT a duration such as “for two weeks.” Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of “lately.” We often use the words “lately” or “recently” to emphasize this meaning.

Examples:

• Recently, I have been feeling really tired.
• She has been watching too much television lately.
• Have you been exercising lately?
• Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
• Lisa has not been practicing her English.
• What have you been doing?

IMPORTANT

Remember that the present perfect continuous has the meaning of “lately” or “recently.” If you use the present perfect continuous in a question such as “Have you been feeling alright?”, it can suggest that the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as “Have you been smoking?” can suggest that you smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests you can see, smell, hear or feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult someone by using this tense incorrectly.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using present perfect continuous with these verbs, you must use present perfect.

Examples:

• Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct
• Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

• You have only been waiting here for one hour.
• Have you only been waiting here for one hour?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• Recently, John has been doing the work. Active
• Recently, the work has been being done by John. Passive

NOTE: Present perfect continuous is less commonly used in its passive form.

More About Active / Passive Forms

Present Perfect Continuous Exercises