Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Continuous…

Expresses a past action that is continuing into the present From the past until now

Is also referred to as Present Perfect Progressive “Perfect” implies a “perfected” or “completed” action

regardless of when the action took place “Progressive” implies that the action is on-going, or “in progress”

They have been skating around the issue for hours. I have been moving books from one shelf to another all day. He has been grinding his teeth. She has been high-fiving everyone.

Construction Site

A note on duration

A “duration phrase” often appears at the end of present perfect progressive statements: The duration phrase brings clarity to the statement by giving

a specific amount of time in which the action has progressed: …for the last two weeks

…for the last two years

…for the last two minutes

…but not always…

A note on duration

Present Perfect Progressive statements without a duration phrase simply imply “lately” as the duration Using this tense in a question implies that the speaker

can observe (feel / smell / hear / see) the results of the action: Have you been baking pies (lately)? Have you been working out (lately)? Have you been flossing (lately)?

BEWARE: Present Perfect Progressive statements or questions can be seen as harsh or even insulting, so use them carefully.

Extra Exposure

Coach has been taking it easy.

Lawyers have been briefing Has she been listening?

They have been crashing at Sam’s.

His performances have been slipping.

Citizens have been combing the city for clues.