Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Definition, Types, Formula, Usage, Examples, Practice Exercises and Answers

Some of the common errors or mistakes to be avoided while using the Present Perfect Continuous Tense are given below:

• Mistake in Auxiliary Verb: The defining factor of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense is the Auxiliary Verb or the usage of ‘has been’ or ‘have been’, Not using this verb, or using any other verb type would be a mistake if you intend to use this tense.
• Get confused with similar tenses: Students often get confused between similar tenses such as Simple Past Tense or Present Perfect Tense.
• Error in time expression: Many students make this common error of time expressions, which are ‘for’ and ‘since’. While ‘for’ is used to indicate a duration, ‘since’ is used to indicate a point of time. Some examples of correct and incorrect sentences of Present Perfect Continuous Tense in terms of time expressions are given below.

Incorrect Sentences:

I have been working in this company for 2020.

I have been working in this company since five years.

Correct Sentences:

I have been working in this company since 2025.

I have been working in this company for five years.

• Not mentioning the duration: Mentioning the duration of the action is important in the Present Perfect Continuous Tense, otherwise, the purpose would be lost. Some of the examples of correct and incorrect sentences in terms of duration usage in the Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

Incorrect Sentences:

It has been raining.

I have been studying.

Correct Sentences:

It has been raining since morning.

I have been studying for the entire night.

• Other grammatical error or misuse ‘been’: If you are meant to use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense, then you must be careful of the usage of ‘been’. Some of the incorrect usage of ‘been’ in the Present Perfect Continuous Tense, along with their correct versions, are given below.

Incorrect Sentences:

I am been learning Spanish since last year.

I was been taking care of grandmother singlehandedly since she fell sick.

The students were being practicing for the play for two hours now.

Correct Sentences:

I have been learning Spanish since last year.

I have been taking care of my grandmother single-handedly since she fell sick.

The students have been practising for the play for two hours now.

The following table brings the list of best books to prepare for the Present Perfect Continuous Tense, along with their authors.

Find below the best books for some common topics of English grammar:

Here we bring some examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense from each type.

Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense in Positive or Affirmative Context 

Take a look at some examples of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense in a Positive context.

1. Rita has been knitting a muffler for her daughter for two weeks.
2. Sanjay has been working on the project report for the past few weeks.
3. My pet dog Bruno has been chasing a butterfly in the garden all morning.
4. Lisa and Riya have been chatting for two hours.
5. Ranjan and Rohan have been classmates since their first year of college.
6. Anjali has been writing letters to her pen friend for over a year now.
7. Varun has been a member of the Reading Club of his school since the first day.
8. Ankur has been taking piano lessons for five years now.
9. Vina has been dreaming of opening her café for a long time.
10. We have been waiting for the bus for the past half an hour.

Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense in Negative Context 

Here are a few examples of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense in a negative context.

1. I have not been able to focus on studies lately.
2. Grandfather has not been keeping well since last year.
3. Trisha has not been going to school for three days due to fever.
4. Tarun has not been a part of the Drama Society of his college since last year.
5. The cat has not been eating anything for two days.
6. The teacher has not been checking student assignments for the past couple of days due to ongoing exams.
7. There has not been any rain in this village for the past year, leading to drought.
8. Shankar has not been responding to calls since yesterday.
9. They have not been on a vacation for three years.
10. The students have not been able to practice football due to the incessant rains.

Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense in Interrogative Context

Find below the examples of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense in question or interrogative format

1. Why have you been getting late for school every day?
2. What have you been doing on the terrace for so long?
3. To whom have you been talking on the telephone?
4. Where have you been all day?
5. What took you so long to answer my call?
6. Why have you been talking to Raj so much nowadays?
7. How have you been lately?
8. What have you been cooking for dinner?
9. How much have you been paying the vendor this year?
10. What have you been working on these days?

 Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense in Negative Interrogative Context

The following sentences or questions are examples of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense in a Negative interrogative or question context.

1. Why have you not been receiving my calls lately?
2. Why have you not been practising for the upcoming competition?
3. Haven’t you been taking your medicines regularly?
4. Have you not been reading the newspapers?
5. Have you not been taking pictures of the wedding today?
6. Why have you not been eating the ice cream?
7. Why have you not been eating your food properly of late?
8. Who among you has not been doing the assignments regularly?
9. Which of the chapters have you not been studying for the weekly test?
10. Why haven’t you been following me on social media lately?

Here are some practice exercises for strengthening the Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

Exercise 1

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below using the Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. She _____ studying for the past four hours.
2. We ______ waiting for the bus for 15 minutes.
3. I _______ working on this project for three weeks.
4. They ______ playing football since the afternoon.
5. He ______ sleeping well lately.
6. Why ______ doing your homework lately?
7. ______ working out lately?
8. The gate of the exam centre _____ closed two hours ago.
9. Rohan ___ walking his dog since evening.
10. My grandmother __ telling me bedtime stories since childhood.

Exercise 2

Convert the following sentences to the Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

1. I started learning French two years ago. I still learn it.
2. She started painting at 10 a.m. It’s now 2 p.m.
3. They began watching the movie an hour ago.
4. He has watched every season of Squid Game.
5. Joy has joined swimming classes during the summer vacation.
6. He eats lunch at 1 PM every day.
7. Riya is attending lectures at her college after arriving there at 10 AM.
8. Ram sleeps in the afternoon at weekends.
9. Mother bakes a cake for my birthday.
10. Priyanka makes Rangoli on every Diwali.

Answers

Take a look at the correct answers to the practice questions given above.

Exercise 1

1. Has been
2. Have been
3. Have been
4. Have been
5. Has been
6. Have you not been
7. Have you been
8. Has been
9. Has been
10. Has been

Exercise 2

1. I have been learning French for two years.
2. She has been painting since 10 AM.
3. They have been watching the movie for an hour.
4. He has been watching every season of Squid Game.
5. Joy has been taking swimming lessons during his summer vacation.
6. He has been eating lunch at 1 PM every day.
7. Riya has been attending lectures at her college since 10 AM.
8. Ram has been sleeping in the afternoons every weekend.
9. Mother has been baking cakes for my birthday every year.
10. Priyanka has been making Rangolis every Diwali.

Read the frequently asked questions regarding Present Perfect Continuous Tense.