Present Perfect Continuous Tense

English

Present Perfect Continuous Tense in English:

When Do We Use Present Perfect Continuous?

Actions Started in the Past and Still Continuing

I have been studying English for five years. (and I'm still studying)
She has been working here since 2020. (and she still works here)
It has been raining all morning. (and it's still raining)

Recently Finished Actions with Visible Results

I have been gardening. (that's why my hands are dirty)
He has been running. (that's why he's out of breath)
They have been painting the house. (that's why they have paint on their clothes)

Temporary Situations

I have been living with friends while my house is being renovated.
She has been working extra hours this month.
We have been eating at that restaurant a lot recently.

Repeated Actions Over a Period of Time

I have been calling him all day, but he doesn't answer.
She has been asking about you since yesterday.
They have been complaining about the noise for weeks.

How to Form Present Perfect Continuous

Subject	Affirmative (+)	Negative (-)	Questions (?)
I	I have been working	I haven't been working	Have I been working?
You	You have been working	You haven't been working	Have you been working?
He/She/It	He has been working	He hasn't been working	Has he been working?
We	We have been working	We haven't been working	Have we been working?
They	They have been working	They haven't been working	Have they been working?

Key Rule:

Use have/has + been + verb-ing:

I have been studying
She has been working

Note: Some verbs are rarely used in continuous form (state verbs: know, believe, belong, etc.)

Signal Words

For Since All day All morning Recently Lately How long The whole time Over the past This week

Examples:

I have been studying for three hours.
She has been working here since January.
We have been waiting all morning.
What have you been doing lately?

Real-Life Examples

Work Conversation

A: "You look tired. Are you okay?"

B: "I have been working on this project non-stop for two days. I haven't been sleeping well lately because we have been preparing for the big presentation."

Weather Report

"It has been raining continuously since yesterday morning. The authorities have been monitoring the flood situation throughout the night. Residents have been preparing for possible evacuation."

Common Mistakes & Tips

Mistake: "I ~~am working~~ here for five years." (incorrect tense)

Correct: "I have been working here for five years."

Mistake: "She ~~has been knowing~~ him since childhood." (state verb)

Correct: "She has known him since childhood."

Essential Tip:

Use Present Perfect Continuous to emphasize duration or ongoing activity. Use Present Perfect for completed actions or results:

"I have been reading that book." (emphasizes the activity)

"I have read that book." (emphasizes completion)

Quick Practice

1. She __________ (study) for the exam all week.

has been studying

2. How long __________ you __________ (wait) here?

have, been waiting

3. They __________ (not sleep) well recently.

haven't been sleeping

4. I __________ (work) on this project since January.

have been working

Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect	Present Perfect Continuous
I have cleaned the kitchen. (completed action - focus on result)	I have been cleaning the kitchen. (activity - focus on duration/process)
She has written three reports. (completed - focus on accomplishment)	She has been writing reports all day. (ongoing activity - focus on time spent)
We have learned a lot. (focus on result/knowledge gained)	We have been learning Spanish. (focus on the activity of learning)
He has repaired the car. (completed action)	He has been repairing the car. (activity - might not be finished)

Duration vs. Completion:

Use Present Perfect Continuous to ask about duration: "How long have you been waiting?"
Use Present Perfect to ask about quantity: "How many pages have you written?"

Polish

Czas teraźniejszy Present Perfect Continuous w języku angielskim:

Kiedy używamy Present Perfect Continuous?

Czynności rozpoczęte w przeszłości i trwające do teraz

I have been studying English for five years. (i nadal się uczę)
She has been working here since 2020. (i nadal tu pracuje)
It has been raining all morning. (i nadal pada)

Niedawno zakończone czynności z widocznymi skutkami

I have been gardening. (dlatego moje ręce są brudne)
He has been running. (dlatego jest zdyszany)
They have been painting the house. (dlatego mają farbę na ubraniach)

Sytuacje tymczasowe

I have been living with friends while my house is being renovated.
She has been working extra hours this month.
We have been eating at that restaurant a lot recently.

Powtarzające się czynności w danym okresie

I have been calling him all day, but he doesn't answer.
She has been asking about you since yesterday.
They have been complaining about the noise for weeks.

Jak tworzyć Present Perfect Continuous

Podmiot	Twierdzenie (+)	Przeczenie (-)	Pytania (?)
I	I have been working	I haven't been working	Have I been working?
You	You have been working	You haven't been working	Have you been working?
He/She/It	He has been working	He hasn't been working	Has he been working?
We	We have been working	We haven't been working	Have we been working?
They	They have been working	They haven't been working	Have they been working?

Kluczowa zasada:

Użyj have/has + been + czasownik z końcówką -ing:

I have been studying
She has been working

Uwaga: Niektóre czasowniki rzadko używane są w formie ciągłej (czasowniki stanu: know, believe, belong itp.)

Słowa sygnalizujące

For Since All day All morning Recently Lately How long The whole time Over the past This week

Przykłady:

I have been studying for three hours.
She has been working here since January.
We have been waiting all morning.
What have you been doing lately?

Przykłady z życia wzięte

Rozmowa w pracy

A: "Wyglądasz na zmęczonego. Wszystko w porządku?"

B: "I have been working on this project non-stop for two days. I haven't been sleeping well lately because we have been preparing for the big presentation."

Prognoza pogody

Częste błędy i wskazówki

Błąd: "I ~~am working~~ here for five years." (niewłaściwy czas)

Poprawnie: "I have been working here for five years."

Błąd: "She ~~has been knowing~~ him since childhood." (czasownik stanu)

Poprawnie: "She has known him since childhood."

Kluczowa wskazówka:

Używaj Present Perfect Continuous, aby podkreślić czas trwania lub trwającą aktywność. Używaj Present Perfect dla zakończonych czynności lub rezultatów:

"I have been reading that book." (podkreśla aktywność)

"I have read that book." (podkreśla ukończenie)

Szybkie ćwiczenia