Present Perfect Continuous Tense Definition, Affirmative, Negative and Interrogative Sentences

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Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense has the same logic as the Present Perfect Tense. Both of these Tenses are used to describe actions that have been taken recently and are still in effect. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is also used to emphasize that a certain action has been going on for a long time.

How to Make Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

To make the Present Perfect Continuous Tense, the auxiliary verb have or has must follow the subject, followed by the verb “been” and the main verb with the suffix “-ing”. The auxiliary verb have is used for the I, We, You, and They subjects. The subjects in which the auxiliary verb Has is used are He, She, and It. If you have difficulty in memorizing which auxiliary verb comes with which subject, you can code that it will come to your mind as “has” for all subjects except singular and I and You subjects. You can easily memorize with this method.

You should not forget that in addition to the added auxiliary verb and the verb “been”, the verb must also have the -ing suffix. This suffix is added to the nominative verb, unlike in the Present Perfect Tense. That is, to use the verb write with the Present Perfect Tense, the written form is required, while the Present Perfect Continuous Tense requires “been writing”.

Grammar Rules of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Affirmative Sentences: To make positive sentences with the Present Perfect Continuous Tense, you should add the auxiliary verb ah have or has after the subject following the subject. The verb “been” should be added after this auxiliary verb, and then the plain verb with the “-ing” suffix should be used.

Rick (he) has been trying to invent the new machine.
Morty (he) has been playing with his ball.
Jonathan’s mother (she) has been working all day without any break.
Richard and Jenny (they) have been writing a book together until May.

Negative Sentences: To make a negative sentence using the Present Perfect Continuous Tense, you should add the suffix “not” to the auxiliary verb. This is the only difference between a negative sentence and a positive sentence.

It has not (hasn’t) been snowing for months here.
I have not (haven’t) been reading any book until my graduation.
Emily (she) has not (hasn’t) been feeling well for a few days, she thinks that she has COVID.
John (he) has not been watching TV for a month. He wanted to be in detox but he does not enjoy watching TV anymore.

Interrogative Sentences: Have and has, which are auxiliary verbs in the interrogative sentences of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense, are at the beginning of the sentence. Then the subject comes, the auxiliary verb been is used and a simple verb with the “-ing” suffix is used. If the question word (Where, Which, Whose, Who, How) is used, the sentence is formed after this word is used.