Present Perfect Continuous
Lesson 1 of 5 · ~6 minutes

Lesson 1 · Present Perfect Continuous

Form

Form

have or has, then been, then the verb with -ing. I, you, we, they take have been. He, she, it and a name take has been. After been comes -ing, not the past participle: waiting, not waited. In speech, have / has are almost always short: I've been, she's been.

The negative is haven't been and hasn't been: I haven't been waiting long. A question starts with have or has: Have you been waiting?, Has Anna been cooking? The helpers do / does don't go here.

Who

I / you / we / they
he / she / it
name
negative

Full form

I have been waiting
She has been cooking
Anna has been working
I have not been waiting

Short

I've been waiting
She's been cooking
Anna's been working
I haven't been waiting
Who
Full form
Short
I / you / we / they
I have been waiting
I've been waiting
he / she / it
She has been cooking
She's been cooking
name
Anna has been working
Anna's been working
negative
I have not been waiting
I haven't been waiting

I have been waiting for the bus.

We have been sitting in the kitchen.

Anna has been cooking since six.

I've been reading in the park.

Where people usually slip

Four common slips, all about been.

After been you need the -ing form, not the past participle: not I have been waited, but I have been waiting.

The third person takes has, not have: not Anna have been cooking, but Anna has been cooking.

Don't drop been: not I have waiting, but I have been waiting.

No do / does in negatives and questions: not I don't been waiting and not Do you been waiting?, but I haven't been waiting and Have you been waiting?.

  • I, you, we, theyI have been waiting for the bus.
  • he, she, a nameAnna has been cooking since six.
  • after been — -ingbeen waiting, not been waited
  • shortI've been reading in the park.
  • negative and questionI haven't been waiting long. / Have you been waiting?
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