Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Definition, Rules, Uses With Examples

Present Perfect Continuous Tense: The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is a verb form that began in the past and continues in the present. This tense is also called Present Perfect Progressive Tense. The structure of the present perfect continuous tense is formed, Subject + have/has + been + present participle (verb + ing) + the rest of the sentence. This verb tense is used to indicate an action that started in the recent past and is still continuing in the present. The present perfect continuous tense is typically used for the following two general cases: Starting in the past and occurring until now with an adverb modifier that indicates the approximate duration and action arising until lately’ or recently’ with some relevant effect continuing into the present.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

When the verb defines or denotes the action which shows that something started in the past and is continuing at the present time, then such verb is used as Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

Structure of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The structure of the Present  Perfect Continuous Tense can be fundamentally understood by analyzing its three different forms, affirmative or positive, negative, and interrogative sentence. Have a look over the structure in the following table.

Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• I have been working on this project for a week. (मैं इस प्रोजेक्ट पर एक हफ्ते से काम कर रहा हूं।)
• You have been working on this project for a week.(आप इस प्रोजेक्ट पर एक हफ्ते से काम कर रहे हैं।)
• He has been working on this project for a week. (वह एक हफ्ते से इस प्रोजेक्ट पर काम कर रहे हैं।)
• She has been working on this project for a week. (वह एक हफ्ते से इस प्रोजेक्ट पर काम कर रही हैं।)
• They have been working on this project for a week. (वे इस प्रोजेक्ट पर एक हफ्ते से काम कर रहे हैं।)

Structure of Sentences in Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Tense sentences can be in three forms, that is, Positive or Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative sentences. Below is the structure of all three forms and examples to make you understand better.

Affirmative/Positive Sentence Structure:

Examples of Affirmative/Positive Sentence Structure:

• I have been eating apples today. (मैं आज सेब खा रहा हूँ।)
• You have not been studying for the past month.(आप पिछले एक महीने से नहीं पढ़ रहे हैं।)
• We haven't been playing with mary since Tuesday. (हम मंगलवार से मैरी के साथ नहीं खेल रहे हैं।)

Negative Sentence Structure:

Examples of Negative Sentence Structure:

• I have not been studying for three hours. (मैं तीन घंटे से नहीं पढ़ रहा हूँ।)
• I have not been watching TV since 7 pm. (मैं शाम 7 बजे से टीवी नहीं देख रहा हूँ।)
• Tara hasn't been feeling well for two weeks.(तारा की दो सप्ताह से तबीयत ठीक नहीं चल रही है।)

Interrogative Sentence Structure:

Examples of Interrogative Sentences Structure:

• Have I been studying for three hours? (क्या मैं तीन घंटे से पढ़ रहा हूँ?)
• Have I been watching TV since 7 pm? (क्या मैं शाम 7 बजे से टीवी देख रहा हूँ?)
• Has Tara been feeling well for two weeks? (क्या तारा दो सप्ताह से अच्छा महसूस कर रही है?)
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Use of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Some of the uses of Present Perfect Continuous Tense are-

1. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for an action that began at some time in the past and is still continuing.
2. This tense is also sometimes used for an action already finished. In such cases, the continuity of the activity is emphasized as an explanation of something.

Examples of Use Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Tense is the verb tense that is used to indicate an action that started in the recent past and is still continuing in the present. Some examples of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense are- 

 1. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for an action that began at some time in the past and is still continuing,

• He has been sleeping for five hours. (and is still sleeping),(वह पांच घंटे से सो रहा है। (और अभी भी सो रहा है))
• They have been building the bridge for several months.(वे कई महीनों से पुल का निर्माण कर रहे हैं।)
• They have been playing since four o’clock. (वे चार बजे से खेल रहे हैं।)

2. This tense is also sometimes used for an action already finished. In such cases, the continuity of the activity is emphasized as an explanation of something.

• ‘Why are your clothes so wet?’- I have been watering the garden.('तुम्हारे कपड़े इतने गीले क्यों हैं?' - मैं बगीचे में पानी भर रहा हूँ।)
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Exercise 1:  

Exercise 2: