Present Perfect Continuous

Suuup you guys! All good?

Today we are learning how we can talk about actions that have been in progress throughout a period and are still happening and have consequences NOW.

Baixe essa aula em PDF: Lesson #09 – Present Perfect Progressive

 

Uh, kind of confusing, right? So check this out:

 

–          She is very tired. She has been studying all day long.

–          He has been writing her letter every week for the past 2 months.

–          We have been teaching English for you guys since January!

 

All of those actions have been in progress for a period and are directly connected to the present moment. That is why it is called Present Perfect Progressive.

 

The structure is pretty simple:

HAVE/HAS + BEEN + VERB –ING.

 

Negative and interrogative follow the same structure as the present perfect:

 

HAVE NOT/HAS NOT or HAVEN’T/HASN’T + BEEN + VERB –ING

I haven’t been sleeping well lately

 

HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT + BEEN + VERB –ING

You look great! Have you been working out?

 

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE X PROGRESSIVE

 

The main difference between those two structures is that the PROGRESSIVE emphasizes the period and the fact that the action is still happening. Check the example:

 

I have painted this room. (The action is complete)

I have been painting this room. (The action is still in progress)

 

Although we can also say:

 

I have worked as a teacher for 7 years.

I have been working as a teacher for 7 years.

 

And both of them express actions that are still happening, the progressive focuses more on the period, on the progression of the action rather than the action itself.

 

Ta, e agora?

 

You know what to do! Practice. Compare the use of both present perfect forms and see how they differ in each context!

 

Take care!