Present perfect continuous tense

Hi guys!

"What have you been doing lately?" you should now know about what we are going to talk in this lesson. Yes, you're right ! The present perfect continuous tense. This tense is really important to master because English speakers use it frequently.

WHEN do we need it?:

1. Actions that have started in the past and have just stopped (or recently stopped).

2. Actions that have started in the past and continue in the present time.

WHAT do we need to use?

The formula is: verb have + past participle "been" + gerund

HOW we use it? Very easy, just pay attention: 

Simple form / Contracted form

I have been / I've been

You have been  /You've been

He/she/it has been / He/She/It's been

We have been / We've been

You have been / You've been

They have been /They've been

   +

Gerund: verb form plus -ing.

So, now that we know all the necessary conditions that the present perfect continuous tense requires, we can dare to do some examples! Here we go:

1. Actions that have stopped (they are not working any longer): I am late because I have been studying the whole evening.
2. Actions that still continue (we make references past-present): I have been learning English for two years.

NEGATIVE FORM: Personal pronoun + verb have conjugated + negation form "not" (Contracted: haven't/hasn't) + been + gerund. For example: He had not/ hasn't been playing the piano. You have not / haven't been playing football on Sunday.

INTERROGATIVE FORM: Verb Have conjugated + personal pronoun + been + gerund. For example: What have you been doing this morning?

You are almost ready, but ...

CAUTION! One thing we also need to take into account is the use of for or since with this tense. When you practice it, I am sure you are going to have doubts with this, but exercising it you will understand it quite easily. Here I give you the key in case you are confused:

FOR --> It is used to refer a long duration of time. It says the length of that action which has been happening. For example: "for two years", "for a long time."

SINCE --> It is used as starting point the time when the action begun. We have a referent like "since yesterday", "since 3 o'clock", "since 2013". 

I hope everything is clear, and remember, questions, doubt, comments, just ask, do not be shy! See you soon :)