PRESENT  PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

It is used to show that a work is being done in present time and has been continuing  for some time. It is still being done now and has not been accomplished yet. It is shown continuing   for a particular duration or  from a point of  time i.e. for two hours or since morning.

Has or Have with been and first form of  verb and ing is used in these sentences.

To express time, words ‘for  or since’ are generally used. 

For Example :

• He has been sleeping for two hours.

• You have been working since morning.

AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES

In affirmative sentence 

With First person, Second person singular and plural and third person plural ‘have’ is used with ‘been’ and first form  of verb and ‘ing’ is used.

With third person singular ‘has’ is used with ‘been’ and first   form  of verb and ‘ing’ is used. To express time since  or for is used.

For Example :

• I have been waiting for you for one hour.

• Boys have been playing since morning.

• You have been preparing for your examination for the last two months.

• She has been working in this office for two years.

NEGATIVE SENTENCES

In negative sentences with 'has or have been' the word  'not' is used with first form of verb and 'ing'.

For example :

• I have not been working since morning.

• She has not been dancing for two hours.

• You have not been watching T.V. for half an hour.

• Children have not been playing since morning.

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

In Interrogative sentences 'Has or Have' is used before Subject. A sign of interrogation is used at the end of the sentence.

For Example: 

• Has he been waiting for you for two hours?

• Have you been playing since morning?

• Have children been doing their work for two hours ?

• Have we been living here  for the last two years?

Similarly in interrogative negative sentences 'Has or Have' is used before subject and not is  used before first  form of verb with ing  in the sentence.

For example :

• Has  she not been singing for two hours ?

• Have the boys not been playing a match since morning?

• Has she not been cooking food since 2 P.M. ?

• Have you not been accompanying him for  two days?

Here are some examples of interrogative sentences starting with 'wh'.


1. Where has he been living for all this time?
2. How long has the speaker been delivering his lecture?
3. Why has the patient been crying for such a long time?
4. Who has been living in this house for the last two years?
5. What has he been  doing in this room since morning?
6. Why has he not been attending the school for the last one week?
7. Who has been knocking at the door for the last ten minutes?
8. How long have you been waiting for us here?
9. Which doctor has been attending to the patient for one week?
10. With whom have you been residing for the last one month?


To Sum Up : 

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE
is used  :

---- to express an action which began at sometime in the past and is still continuing.

It has been raining since morning.
He has been sleeping for the last two years.
She has been teaching for ten years.

--- to express an action which has already been finished.

She has been working all the day.
He has been working in the factory.
He has been watering the plants (but is not doing so now).

EXERCISE NO  1

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. We ...........(live) in this house..........  the last ten years.

2. The child ...........(weep).......... the last half an hour.

3. She .............(wait) for him....... morning.

4. The teacher ..........(teach) the students ........2 O' Clock.  

5. His brother  ........ (reside) in this house  ......  his childhood.

EXERCISE NO  2

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. The fishermen ............(not catch) fish ........yesterday.

2. Children .............. (not swim) in the pond...... two hours.

3. We ...........( not visit) this city  ......... the last two years.

4. His father ......... (not work) in this office ....... one year.

5. The ladies ......... (not gossip) ........ noon.

EXERCISE NO  3

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. ........... the clouds ..........(thunder) in the sky .........morning?

2. ........... he .........(write) his biography ....... the last one year?

3. ............ the girl ...........(recite) poems for half an  hour?

4. .......... the labourers .............(dig) a tunnel ........ the last two days ?

5. ............ the boy ......... (suffer) from this disease ........ his childhood?

EXERCISE NO  4

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. For whom .......... you ..........(wait) ........ the last one hour?

2. Who ........ (teach) you English ........ the last one month?

3. In which school ............she ..........(study).......... the one last year?

4.  What .......... you ........ (do) ........  the last two hours? 

5. Where ........ the children ........ (play) ....... such a long time ?

 

EXERCISE NO  5

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

They ......... (live) in this house ....... a long time. Many guests ......... (visit) them .... the last one week. They all ..........(enjoy) themselves ........the last few days. Their children ........ (play) in the ground ....... morning. They ....... (make) mischief .....morning. They ........ (prepare and serve)  delicious food to guests ......... the last few days.

(ANSWERS)

EXERCISE NO  1

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. We  have been living in this house for  the last ten years.

2. The child has been weeping   for the last half an hour.

3. She  has been waiting  for him since morning.

4. The teacher  has been teaching the students  since 2 O' Clock.  

5. His brother  has been residing in this house  since  his childhood.

EXERCISE NO  2

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. The fishermen  have not been catching  fish  since yesterday.

2. Children have not been  swimming  in the pond for two hours.

3. We  have not been visiting this city  for  the last two years.

4. His father has not been  working  in this office for  one year.

5. The ladies have not been gossiping  since noon.

EXERCISE NO  3

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. Have the clouds  been thundering  in the sky  since morning?

2. Has he  been writing his biography for the last one year?

3. Has the girl  been reciting  poems for half an  hour?

4. Have the labourers been  digging a tunnel for the last two days ?

5. Has the boy been suffering  from this disease  since his childhood?

EXERCISE NO  4

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. For whom  have you  been waiting  for the last one hour?

2. Who has been  teaching you English  for the last one month?

3. In which school  has she been studying for the last one year?

4.  What have you been doing  for  the last two hours? 

5. Where have the children been  playing for such a long time ?

 

EXERCISE NO  5

Fill in the blanks using appropriate form of given verb in Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

They have been living in this house for a long time. Many guests have been visiting them for the last one week. They all have been enjoying themselves for the last few days. Their children have been playing in the ground since morning. They have been making mischief since morning. They have been preparing and serving  delicious food to guests for the last few days.

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