Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Lesson and Practice Questions

Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Usage, Structure and Examples

Usage:

  1. Duration of an Action:

    • Expresses actions that started in the past and are still ongoing in the present.
    • Example: She has been working on this project for hours.

  2. Emphasis on Activity:

    • Emphasizes the continuous or repeated nature of an action.
    • Example: They have been studying Spanish every day.

  3. Temporary Situations:

    • Describes temporary activities or situations that have a current impact.
    • Example: I am out of breath because I have been running.

  4. Events Leading to the Present:

    • Explains a situation or event that has led to the current state.
    • Example: Why is the floor wet? It has been raining outside.

Structure:

  • Affirmative:

    • Subject + has/have + been + present participle (verb + -ing)

  • Negative:

    • Subject + has/have + not + been + present participle (verb + -ing)

  • Interrogative:

    • Has/Have + subject + been + present participle (verb + -ing)?

Examples:

  1. Affirmative:

    • She has been working at the company for five years.
    • We have been waiting for the bus since morning.

  2. Negative:

    • He has not been practicing the piano recently.
    • They haven’t been watching much TV lately.

  3. Interrogative:

    • Have you been studying for the exam?
    • Has she been living here for a long time?

Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Practice Questions

Affirmative:

  1. She ____________ (work) in the garden all morning.

    a. has worked
    b. has been working
    c. worked

  2. We ____________ (study) for the exam for hours.

    a. have studied
    b. have been studying
    c. studies

  3. He ____________ (wait) for you since noon.

    a. has waited
    b. has been waiting
    c. waited

  4. They ____________ (play) football since they got home.

    a. played
    b. have played
    c. have been playing

  5. I ____________ (read) this book for weeks.

    a. have read
    b. have been reading
    c. reads

Answers: (Affirmative)

1. B, 2. B, 3. B, 4. C, 5. B

Negative:

  1. She ____________ (not/work) here for long.

    a. did not work
    b. has not been working
    c. not working

  2. We ____________ (not/study) Spanish lately.

    a. did not study
    b. have not studied
    c. not studying

  3. He ____________ (not/wait) for you all day.

    a. did not wait
    b. has not waited
    c. not waiting

  4. They ____________ (not/play) the piano for hours.

    a. did not play
    b. have not played
    c. not playing

  5. I ____________ (not/read) any novels recently.

    a. did not read
    b. have not read
    c. not reads

Answers: (Negative)

1. B, 2. B, 3. B , 4. B, 5. B

Interrogative:

  1. __________ she ____________ (work) on this project for a long time?

    a. Has / worked
    b. Did / work
    c. Is / working

  2. __________ you ____________ (study) for the exam all week?

    a. Have / studied
    b. Did / study
    c. Are / studying

  3. __________ he ____________ (wait) for you since morning?

    a. Has / waited
    b. Did / wait
    c. Is / waiting

  4. __________ they ____________ (play) the guitar for a while now?

    a. Have / played
    b. Did / play
    c. Are / playing

  5. __________ you ____________ (read) any good books lately?

    a. Have / read
    b. Did / read
    c. Are / reading

Answers: (Interrogative)

1. A, 2. A, 3. A, 4. A, 5. A

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> Simple Past Tense
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