When it comes to , most of the rules are logical when you think about them.

When it comes to, most of the rules are logical when you think about them.

For instance, plural nouns take plural verbs, independent clauses are separated from each other by a comma, and the subject of a participial phrase should be the same as the main clause so as to avoid dangling participles.

In short, grammar is all about meaning. If something helps the meaning and makes the reader’s life easier, then odds are it is grammatically correct.

However, not all things follow this dictum. Some exceptions can prove counter-intuitive, confusing anyone new to the language.

An excellent case in point can be seen if we look at a fairly common question. Is it “everyone has” or “everyone have”?

 

So, is it “everyone has” or “everyone have”?

The correct form is “everyone has.” There are very few cases where “everyone” would ever be followed by “have,” but, for the most part, you will always use the singular “has.”

And, this may strike you as odd at first, but you’ll understand why in a minute.

 

The reason why “everyone has” is correct while “everyone have” is incorrect

Logically speaking, “everyone” is used to refer to more than one person, which is why most beginners’ first instinct is to assume that “everyone” is a plural pronoun.

And, if you follow this line of reasoning, you might think that it should be followed by plural forms of verbs, including “have” rather than “has.”

However, this is incorrect. Any time “everyone” is the subject of a clause, the verb will come in the singular form.

Let’s look at a few examples.

 

Examples:

Everyone has the potential to be happy.

Everyone has an alibi that explains where they were during the robbery.

 

Even when using tenses other than the present simple, “everyone” still uses the singular form.

 

Everyone has had time to read the pamphlet.

Everyone has seen the eclipse.

 

And, this also goes for verbs other than “have.”

 

Everyone here is planning to go to the beach.

Everyone knows that the soup is bad.

 

Indefinite pronouns

So, why should you use the singular?

Well, you see, “everyone” belongs to a group called the indefinite pronouns.

These are pronouns that don’t refer to someone or something specific, and they include “anyone,” “someone,” “no one,” “nobody,” and of course “everyone.”

Now, any time you use one of these indefinite pronouns, you have to follow it with a singular verb, regardless of whether said pronoun refers to a single individual or a large group of people.

 

Examples:

Someone knows what happened here.

Nobody believes that the Earth is flat.

No one has seen someone as talented as her.

Anyone who chooses to invest in Bitcoin has to be careful.

 

The determiners

Interestingly, if you take the determiners “every,” “each,” and “any” and place them before a noun, the final result is still a singular noun that takes a singular verb.

 

Examples:

Every person on this floor is a football player.

Again, even though we are talking about more than one person, the noun is treated as a singular noun, which is why it is followed by the singular “is” instead of the plural “are.”

 

Any cinephile has watched “Gone With the Wind.”

Each number represents the success rate of the different groups.

 

Are there any cases where “everyone” is followed by “have”?

In the traditional sense, “everyone” is never followed by “have.”

However, there are a few unique constructions where this rule may be broken. Let’s take a look at some of them.

 

When using the imperative

Anytime you use the imperative form, i.e. give someone an order, you use the plural form of the verb.

It doesn’t matter whether you are talking to a single individual or a large group of people, you still use the plural form.

 

Examples:

Read the book.

Whereas the singular form is “reads,” we use here the plural form of “read,” the same plural form found in “we read the book.”

 

Now, if you were to use the word “everyone,” this is how it would look.

 

Everyone, have a seat.

You’ll notice that “everyone” is separated from the verb “have” by a comma. Nevertheless, the indefinite pronoun is technically followed by the plural form of the verb.

 

When using “could have,” “would have,” and “should have”

“Could have,” “would have,” and “should have” are three constructions used to talk about imaginary scenarios.

“Could have” is used to discuss things that might have been possible in the past or thing you might have been able to do, but that is no longer the case.

“Should have” is used to refer to something that would have been advantageous to do in the past, yet you failed to do it for some reason.

“Would have” can either be used with the third conditional or when talking about something you wanted to do in the past but never got around to.

 

Examples:

I should have fought harder to win the match.

We would have called you had we known you were interested.

He could have stopped the trial anytime he wanted to.

 

Now, when using these constructions with a question, you put the modal verbs, “could,” “should,” and “would,” at the beginning of the sentence. Then, you sandwich the subject between the modal verb and the verb “have.”

 

Examples:

Would he have done anything differently had he known the outcome?

Should I have called before coming over?

You should now be able to see why this presents another case where “everyone” will be followed by “have” instead of “has.”

 

Could everyone have a seat?

In the above sentence, “have” is part of the construction “could have.” It is worth noting that this applies in both cases where “could have” is followed by the past participle of another verb and where it isn’t.

 

Could everyone have done better in their exams had they had more time to study?

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Present Perfect Continuous

The Present Perfect Continuous uses two auxiliary verbs together with a main verb.

In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the Present Perfect Continuous tense, as well as the use of for and since, followed by a quiz to check your understanding.

Note that continuous tenses are also called progressive tenses. So the Present Perfect Continuous tense is sometimes called the Present Perfect Progressive tense.

How do we make the Present Perfect Continuous tense?

The structure of the Present Perfect Continuous tense is:

subject
+
auxiliary have
+
auxiliary be
+
main verb

conjugated in Present Simple

past participle

 

have, has
been
present participle

The first auxiliary (have) is conjugated in the Present Simple: have, has

The second auxiliary (be) is invariable in past participle form: been

The main verb is invariable in present participle form: -ing

For negative sentences we insert not after the first auxiliary verb.

For question sentences, we exchange the subject and first auxiliary verb.

Look at these example sentences with the Present Perfect Continuous tense:

 
subject
auxiliary verb
 
auxiliary verb
main verb
 

+
I
have
 
been
waiting
for one hour.

+
You
have
 
been
talking
too much.

–
It
has
not
been
raining.
 

–
We
have
not
been
playing
football.

?
Have
you
 
been
seeing
her?

?
Have
they
 
been
doing
their homework?

Contraction with Present Perfect Continuous

When we use the Present Perfect Continuous tense in speaking, we often contract the subject and the first auxiliary verb. We also sometimes do this in informal writing.

I have been
I’ve been

You have been
You’ve been

He has been
She has been
It has been
John has been
The car has been
He’s been
She’s been
It’s been
John’s been
The car’s been

We have been
We’ve been

They have been
They’ve been

• I’ve been reading.
• Jenny’s been helping us recently.

In negative sentences, we may contract the first auxiliary verb and “not”:

• I haven’t been playing tennis.
• It hasn’t been snowing.

How do we use the Present Perfect Continuous tense?

This tense is called the Present Perfect Continuous tense. There is usually a connection with the present or now.

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about:

• past action recently-stopped
• past action still-continuing

Present Perfect Continuous for past action just stopped

We use the Present Perfect Continuous tense to talk about action that started in the past and stopped recently. There is usually a result now.

I’m tired because I‘ve been running.

past
present
future

!!!
 

Recent action
Result now
 

• I’m tired [now] because I‘ve been running.
• Why is the grass wet [now]? Has it been raining?
• You don’t understand [now] because you haven’t been listening.

Present Perfect Continuous for past action continuing now

We use the Present Perfect Continuous tense to talk about action that started in the past and is continuing now. This is often used with for or since.

I have been reading for 2 hours.

past
present
future

 

Action started in past.
Action is continuing now.
 

• I have been reading for 2 hours. (I am still reading now.)
• We‘ve been studying since 9 o’clock. (We’re still studying now.)
• How long have you been learning English? (You are still learning now.)
• We have not been smoking. (And we are not smoking now.)

For and Since with Present Perfect Continuous tense

We often use for and since with perfect tenses:

• We use for to talk about a period of time: three hours, two months, one decade
• We use since to talk about a point in past time: 9 o’clock, 1st January, Monday

for
since

a period of time
a point in past time
– – – – – – – – – – – –
– • – – – – – – – – – –

30 minutes
10.00am

four days
Friday

3 months
March

2 years
2010

3 centuries
1700

ages
I left school

ever
the beginning of time

etc
etc

Look at these example sentences using for and since with the Present Perfect Continuous tense:

• I have been studying for three hours.
• I have been watching TV since 7pm.
• Tara hasn’t been feeling well for two weeks.
• Tara hasn’t been visiting us since March.
• He has been playing football for a long time.
• He has been living in Bangkok since he left school.

For can be used with all tenses. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only.

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