Perfect Continuous tense

 

perfect continuous

 

PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE:

a.   PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:

The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing now:

Format:

Affirmative Sentences:

O Singular: Subject + has been+ verb 1st +ing +since/for+ object.

O Plural:  ·         Subject + have been+ verb 1st +ing +since/for + object.

Negative Sentences:

O  Singular: Subject + has+ not +been + verb 1st +ing +ing  + object

O  Plural:  Subject + have +not+been + verb 1st +ing +ing  + object

Interrogative Sentences:

O Singular: Has +subject + been +verb 1st +ing +Obj+?

O Plural: Has+subject + been +verb 1st +ing +Obj+?

Affirmative Sentences

1. I have been studying for three hours.
2. She has been working at the company for five years.
3. They have been traveling around Europe for a month.
4. We have been waiting for the bus since 7 AM.
5. He has been training for the marathon for six months.
6. The team has been practicing every day this week.
7. I have been reading that book for a week.
8. She has been learning Spanish for a year.
9. They have been renovating their house for the past year.
10. We have been trying to solve this problem for hours.

Negative Sentences

1. I have not been studying for three hours.
2. She has not been working at the company for five years.
3. They have not been traveling around Europe for a month.
4. We have not been waiting for the bus since 7 AM.
5. He has not been training for the marathon for six months.
6. The team has not been practicing every day this week.
7. I have not been reading that book for a week.
8. She has not been learning Spanish for a year.
9. They have not been renovating their house for the past year.
10. We have not been trying to solve this problem for hours.

Interrogative Sentences

1. Have you been studying for three hours?
2. Has she been working at the company for five years?
3. Have they been traveling around Europe for a month?
4. Have we been waiting for the bus since 7 AM?
5. Has he been training for the marathon for six months?
6. Has the team been practicing every day this week?
7. Have I been reading that book for a week?
8. Has she been learning Spanish for a year?
9. Have they been renovating their house for the past year?
10. Have we been trying to solve this problem for hours?

 

b.     Past PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Format:

Affirmative Sentences:

O Singular: Subject + had +been+ verb 1st +ing +since/for+ object.

O Plural:  ·         Subject + had +been+ verb 1st +ing +since/for + object.

Negative Sentences:

O  Singular: Subject + had been + not + verb 1st +ing + object

O  Plural:  Subject + had been + not + verb 1st +ing + object

Interrogative Sentences:

O Singular:  Have +subject +been +verb 1st +ing +Obj+?

O Plural: Has+subject + had been +verb 1st +ing +Obj+?

 

Affirmative Sentences

1. I had been studying for three hours when you called.
2. She had been working at the company for five years before she moved.
3. They had been traveling around Europe for a month when they returned home.
4. We had been waiting for the bus for an hour before it arrived.
5. He had been training for the marathon for six months before the event was canceled.
6. The team had been practicing every day before the championship.
7. I had been reading that book for a week before I finished it.
8. She had been learning Spanish for a year before she went to Spain.
9. They had been renovating their house for a year before it was completed.
10. We had been trying to solve this problem for hours before we found the solution.

Negative Sentences

1. I had not been studying for three hours when you called.
2. She had not been working at the company for five years before she moved.
3. They had not been traveling around Europe for a month when they returned home.
4. We had not been waiting for the bus for an hour before it arrived.
5. He had not been training for the marathon for six months before the event was canceled.
6. The team had not been practicing every day before the championship.
7. I had not been reading that book for a week before I finished it.
8. She had not been learning Spanish for a year before she went to Spain.
9. They had not been renovating their house for a year before it was completed.
10. We had not been trying to solve this problem for hours before we found the solution.

Interrogative Sentences

1. Had you been studying for three hours when I called?
2. Had she been working at the company for five years before she moved?
3. Had they been traveling around Europe for a month when they returned home?
4. Had we been waiting for the bus for an hour before it arrived?
5. Had he been training for the marathon for six months before the event was canceled?
6. Had the team been practicing every day before the championship?
7. Had I been reading that book for a week before I finished it?
8. Had she been learning Spanish for a year before she went to Spain?
9. Had they been renovating their house for a year before it was completed?
10. Had we been trying to solve this problem for hours before we found the solution?

 

c.      FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

 

Format:

 

Affirmative Sentences:

O Singular: Subject + Will has been+ verb 1st +ing +since/for+ object.

O Plural:  ·         Subject + shall have been+ verb 1st +ing +since/for + object.

Negative Sentences:

O  Singular: Subject + Will has + not +been+ verb 1st +ing + object

O  Plural:  Subject + Shall have + not + been+ verb 1st +ing + object

Interrogative Sentences:

O Singular:  Will +subject + have been +verb 1st +ing +Obj+?

O Plural: Shall +subject + have been +verb 1st +ing +Obj+?

 

Affirmative Sentences

1. I will have been studying for three hours by the time you arrive.
2. She will have been working at the company for five years by next month.
3. They will have been traveling around Europe for a month by the time they return.
4. We will have been waiting for the bus for an hour by the time it arrives.
5. He will have been training for the marathon for six months by the event.
6. The team will have been practicing every day by the time the championship starts.
7. I will have been reading that book for a week by the time I finish it.
8. She will have been learning Spanish for a year by the time she travels to Spain.
9. They will have been renovating their house for a year by the time it's completed.
10. We will have been trying to solve this problem for hours by the time we find a solution.

Negative Sentences

1. I will not have been studying for three hours by the time you arrive.
2. She will not have been working at the company for five years by next month.
3. They will not have been traveling around Europe for a month by the time they return.
4. We will not have been waiting for the bus for an hour by the time it arrives.
5. He will not have been training for the marathon for six months by the event.
6. The team will not have been practicing every day by the time the championship starts.
7. I will not have been reading that book for a week by the time I finish it.
8. She will not have been learning Spanish for a year by the time she travels to Spain.
9. They will not have been renovating their house for a year by the time it's completed.
10. We will not have been trying to solve this problem for hours by the time we find a solution.

Interrogative Sentences

1. Will you have been studying for three hours by the time I arrive?
2. Will she have been working at the company for five years by next month?
3. Will they have been traveling around Europe for a month by the time they return?
4. Will we have been waiting for the bus for an hour by the time it arrives?
5. Will he have been training for the marathon for six months by the event?
6. Will the team have been practicing every day by the time the championship starts?
7. Will I have been reading that book for a week by the time I finish it?
8. Will she have been learning Spanish for a year by the time she travels to Spain?
9. Will they have been renovating their house for a year by the time it's completed?
10. Will we have been trying to solve this problem for hours by the time we find a solution?

Usage of since or for.

1. Since" is used to indicate the starting point of the action. It is typically used with a specific point in time or a specific event.
• Present Perfect Continuous: "I have been studying since 8 AM."
• Past Perfect Continuous: "I had been studying since 8 AM when you called."
• Future Perfect Continuous: "I will have been studying since 8 AM by the time you arrive."
2. "For" is used to indicate the duration of the action. It is used with a period
3. (e.g., hours, days, years).
• Present Perfect Continuous: "I have been studying for three hours."
• Past Perfect Continuous: "I had been studying for three hours when you called."
• Future Perfect Continuous: "I will have been studying for three hours by the time you arrive."

Examples with "Since" and "For"

Present Perfect Continuous

• Since: "She has been working here since January."
• For: "She has been working here for eight months."

Past Perfect Continuous

• Since: "They had been traveling since May before they returned home."
• For: "They had been traveling for three months before they returned home."

Future Perfect Continuous

• Since: "I will have been living here since 2010 by the end of this year."
• For: "I will have been living here for 15 years by the end of this year."

In summary:

• Use "since" for a specific starting point.
• Use "for" for a duration of time.