Present Perfect Continuous

We use the present perfect continuous to talk about situations which have started in the past and are still going on in the present or have just finished and still have effects on the present.

We can use it in its different forms:

• affirmative: we start with the subject followed by have been and a verb that ends with -ing. In the third person singular, we use has;
• negative: we start with the subject followed by have not and been and a verb that ends with -ing. In the third person singular, we use has not;
• interrogative: we start with have followed by the subject and been and a verb that ends with -ing (the sentence ends with a question mark). In the third person singular, we use has.

For example:
— “She has been working on important projects the last few months.” = affirmative;
— “She hasn’t been working on important projects the last few months.” = negative;
— “Has she been working on important projects the last few months?” = interrogative.

— “I have been working on an important project for the last few months.” = We use the present perfect continuous to express progress (I started working in the past and I am still working).
♦ “I am working on an important project this month.” = We use the present continuous to express an action that takes place while talking (in that moment).
♦ “I work on important projects.” = We use the present simple tense to talk about a repeated action (I work regularly).

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.