17.1 Usage:

A: The Present Perfect Continuous Tense shows that an event, activity or situation that began in the recent or long past is continuing.

e.g. Harry has been cleaning the car for three hours.

B: The Present Perfect Continuous Tense can be used to describe an event, activity or situation that began in the past and ended only a short time ago.

e.g. Brian has been mending the clock all the morning and until five minutes ago.

C: This Tense is often used to answer the questions: How long for? How long since?

and, in French, this Tense is often used with depuis:

e.g. I have been learning French since 1978.

Mary has been speaking German for five years.

N.B. In French, the Present Tense is often used when the Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used in English.

e.g. Marcel has been learning English since 1989.

Marcel apprend l'anglais depuis 1989.

17.2 Usage: Exceptions:

A: Some verbs are not used in the Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

to be, have, hear, know, like, love, prefer, recognise, see, suppose, understand, want, wish.

These verbs are used in the Present Perfect Tense.

e.g. I have known David since 1968 ( not I have been knowing )

B: The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is not used to express repetition:

e.g. Bill has driven his car twice this week ( not Bill has been driving )

C: The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is not used to describe an event, activity or situation that has not yet taken place.

e.g. The cyclist has not ridden his bicycle for three weeks ( not has not been riding )

17.3 Structure:

The general rule for construction of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense of all verbs is:

has/have been + infinitive + -ing.

e.g. The policeman has been chasing the criminals through the streets of London.

17.4 Structure: Negatives:

In negative statements, not is put immediately after has/have and before been.

e.g. My father has not been working in the factory for five years.

17.5 Structure: Questions:

In questions, the subject and has/have change places.

S AUX

e.g. statement: The two boys have been looking for the lost ring.

AUX S AUX

question: Have the two boys been looking for the lost ring?