The present perfect continuous tense is a verb tense used to describe actions or situations that started in the past, have continued until the present, and may still be ongoing. It emphasizes the duration or length of time of an action or situation.
To form the present perfect continuous tense, you need to use the auxiliary verb “have” in the present perfect form, followed by “been,” and then the present participle (verb + -ing) of the main verb. Here’s the basic structure:
Subject + have/has + been + present participle
Examples:
- I have been studying for three hours. This sentence indicates that the action of studying started in the past and has continued up until the present. It implies that the person is still studying at the moment of speaking.
- They have been living in London since 2010. This sentence suggests that their residence in London began in the past and is still ongoing. It emphasizes the duration of their stay.
- She has been working on the project all week. This sentence communicates that her work on the project began in the past and has persisted until now. It implies that she is still working on it.
The present perfect continuous tense is often used to talk about actions or situations that have a connection to the present moment or that have just ended.
It can also be used to express annoyance or irritation about ongoing actions.