Perfect Continuous Verb Tenses
Verbs are words that express action (run) or a state of being (love). The action can also be
abstract rather than visible, such as the words think and decide.
Verb tense tells when an action occurred on a time line. There are three tense-
present, past, and future.
Aspect indicates whether an action is complete or not.
The simple aspect indicates that an action occurred, without an indication of when it occurred.
The continuous (progressive) aspect indicates that the action is ongoing.
The progressive aspect indicates that the action is complete.
These two concepts are combined to give the twelve verb 12 different verb tenses. These are:
The simple tenses- present, past, and future
The continuous tenses- present, past, and future
The perfect tenses- present, past, and future
The perfect continuous- present past, and future.
Below is an explanation of the simple verb tenses and when they should be used.
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The present perfect continuous is formed by using: have/has + been + verb + ing ending.
Use the present perfect continuous tense:
1. When talking about events, situations, or actions that started in the past and continue
into the present or future.
We have been living in France for over a year.
2. When talking about how long you have done something.
Robert has been working on that report for six weeks.
3. When talking about repeated events, situations, or actions that started in the past
and continue to the present.
I have been playing a lot of tennis lately.
4. When the focus of the sentence is more on the duration of the event, situation, or action
than the result of it.
I feel exhausted because I’ve been working all day.
Practice
Working in pairs, ask each other the following questions, answering in the present perfect
continuous tense. Each partner should ask and answer each question. Be sure to use
complete sentences in your answers. For additional practice, change the words in
parenthesis to make your own questions.
How long have you (been attending this English course)?
How has your favorite (sports team been doing this year- winning or losing)?
Has your best friend been (asking you to lend him or her money lately)?
How long has your (favorite singer been recording records)?
Have you been (purchasing any new clothes lately)?
How long (have you been driving)?
If you (exercise regularly, how long have you been doing it)?
Where have you been (going for entertainment over the last month)?
How long has (you been working at your present job)?
How long have you been (enjoying your current hobby)?
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
The past perfect continuous is formed by using: had + been + verb + “ing”.
Use the past perfect continuous tense:
1. When talking about the duration of an action up to a certain time in the past.
By the time I arrived in Seoul, it had been raining for 3 days.
2. When talking about the duration of an action before another past action.
Robert had been studying for 30 minutes before he fell asleep.
Practice
Working in pairs, ask each other the following questions, answering in the past perfect
continuous tense. Each partner should ask and answer each question. Be sure to use
complete sentences in your answers. For additional practice, change the words in
parenthesis to make your own questions.
How long had you been (studying English before taking this class)?
How long had you been (sleeping before you woke up this morning?
How long had you been (waiting in the classroom before the instructor entered)?
How long had the (sun been up before you got out of bed this morning)?
How long had the (longest running TV program in your country been running before it was canceled)?
How long had you been (walking before you could tie your shoes)?
How long had you been (watching TV last night before you turned it off)?
How long had you been (living in your previous house before you moved into your current one)?
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
The future perfect continuous is formed by using: will + have + been + verb + “ing”.
Use the future perfect continuous tense:
1. When talking about the duration of an event, action, or situation up to a certain time
in the future.
By December, 2009 she will have been working for the company for 12 years.
2. When talking about the duration of an event, action, or situation before another event
in the future.
I will have been studying for 2 hours by the time the movie ends.
Sometimes the future perfect continuous and the future perfect can be used to express
the same meaning.
When Professor Johns retires he will have taught for 19 years.
OR
When Professor Johns retires, he will have been teaching for 19 years.
Practice
Working in pairs, ask each other the following questions, answering in the future perfect
continuous tense. Each partner should ask and answer each question. Be sure to use
complete sentences in your answers. For additional practice, change the words in
parenthesis to make your own questions.
By the first of next month, how long will you have been (living in your present home)?
By your next birthday, how long will you have been (reading the newspaper for daily news)?
After you answer this question, how long will you have been (sitting in the classroom today)?
By the next elections in your county, how long will your country have been having democratic elections)?
If two people start (dancing right now and dance for two and a half days, how many hours will they
have been dancing by the time they quit)?
By January first, (how long will your favorite news anchor been reporting the news on TV)?
By your next birthday, (how long will your favorite singer have been singing)?
By Friday of this week, (how long will you have been attending this class)?
By the end of this class, (how long will you have been sitting in your chair)?
By the year 2010, (how long will you have been living on this earth)?
After you answer this question, (how long will you have been answering questions in this section)?
