⚙️ Lesson 1: Present Perfect Continuous
Welcome to our B2 series on advanced verb tenses! You already know the Present Perfect Simple is used for past actions with a present result. Today, we learn its partner tense: the Present Perfect Continuous1. We use this tense to put emphasis2 on the duration3 of an unfinished, ongoing4 action.
The Structure: have/has + been + -ing
The structure is very consistent. It always has three parts: the auxiliary verb 'have/has', the past participle of 'be' which is 'been', and the main verb in its gerund (-ing) form.
Formula: Subject + have/has + been + Verb-ing
- Positive: "I have been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes."
- Negative: "She hasn't been feeling well recently."
- Question: "Have you been working here for a long time?"
Use 1: Emphasizing Duration of Unfinished Actions
This is the main use of the tense. We use it with 'for' and 'since' to answer the question "How long...?" and to highlight that the action is continuous.
"She has been learning to play the chapei for six months." (Focuses on the long, continuous process of learning).
"They have been building that new hotel by the river for over a year." (Focuses on the duration of the construction).
Use 2: Recent Continuous Actions with a Present Result
We also use this tense to talk about an action that was recently in progress and has a clear, visible result now. The action might have just stopped.
"Why are you so tired?" → "Because I've been studying for my exam all night." (The recent action of studying caused the present result of being tired).
"The ground is all wet." → "Yes, it's been raining." (The recent action of raining caused the present result of a wet ground).
Warning: Stative Verbs
We do not normally use continuous tenses with stative verbs5 (verbs for states, not actions, like 'know', 'believe', 'understand', 'own'). For these, we must use the Present Perfect Simple.
Correct: "I have known her since we were children."
Incorrect: "I have been knowing her since..."
🧠 Practice Quiz: Choose the Correct Tense
Complete the sentences with the correct verb form.
- "How long _______ you _______ (wait) for the bus?"
Answer: have you been waiting - Your eyes are red. _______ you _______ (cry)?
Answer: Have you been crying - I _______ (know) my best friend for more than ten years.
Answer: have known ('Know' is a stative verb.) - She's exhausted because she _______ (work) hard all day long.
Answer: has been working - He _______ (not feel) very well recently.
Answer: hasn't been feeling
📝 Homework: What Have You Been Doing?
Write a full sentence for each situation using the Present Perfect Continuous.
- You started learning English 3 years ago and you are still learning.
(Example: I have been learning English for three years.)
_________________________________________ - You see your friend and their hands are covered in paint. Ask them a question.
(Example: What have you been doing? Have you been painting?)
_________________________________________ - Complete this sentence with a real, ongoing activity in your life: "Recently, I have been..."
(Example: Recently, I have been reading a lot of books.)
_________________________________________
Vocabulary Glossary
- Present Perfect Continuous: (Noun Phrase) - បច្ចុប្បន្នកាលបរិបូណ៌កំពុងបន្ត (bât'chŏp'bân'nâ'kal bo'rĭ'bao kâmpŭng bântɔɔ) - A tense used to show that an action started in the past and has continued up to the present moment. ↩
- Emphasis: (Noun) - ការសង្កត់ធ្ងន់ (kaa sâng'kât'thngón) - Special importance or attention given to something. ↩
- Duration: (Noun) - រយៈពេល (rô'yĕă' peil) - The length of time that something continues. ↩
- Ongoing: (Adjective) - ដែលកំពុងបន្ត (dael kâmpŭng bântɔɔ) - Continuing to exist or develop. ↩
- Stative Verb: (Noun Phrase) - កិរិយាស័ព្ទប្រាប់សភាព (kĕ'rĭ'ya'sâp prăp sa'phéap) - A verb describing a state of being rather than an action (e.g., know, love, believe, own). ↩