The Present Perfect Continuous is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be in the Present Perfect Tense (have/has been) and Participle I of the notional verb.
I have been writing. Has she been writing? They have not been writing
1) The Present Perfect Continuous Inclusive is used to denote an action which began in the past, has been going on up to the present and is still going on.
The emphasis is put on the continuation of a long activity at the present moment.
The period of duration is indicated by an adverbial with for, whereas an adverbial with since shows the starting point of the action (if the conjunction since introduces a clause, the verb in this clause is in the Past Indefinite), these two days, etc. e.g. I have been looking for your white dress for the last ten minutes. This youth organization has been doing a lot of charity work since the mid-nineties. She has been telling lies all her life.
With verbs not admitting of the continuous form the Present Perfect Inclusive is the only tense possible. 2) The Present Perfect Continuous Exclusive is used to denote an action which was recently in progress but is no longer going on at the present moment.
The fact of the result of a long activity itself is more essential than the period of its duration, which may not be even mentioned. = Actions stopping just before the present moment. e.g. Look! It has been snowing. Sorry, Im late. Have you been waiting for me?
The Present Perfect Continuous Exclusive is used to express repeated actions in the past. e.g. I have been buying pictures. I have been getting letters from him.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The Past Perfect Continuous Tense is formed by means of auxiliary verb to be in the Past Perfect Tense (had been) and Participle I of the notional verb.
1) The Past Perfect Continuous Inclusive is used to denote an action which began before a definite moment in the past, continued up to that moment and was still going on at that moment.
Either the starting point is indicated (since) or the whole period of duration (for). e.g. We couldnt go out because it had been raining since early morning. When you saw us, we had been running for 6 miles and we still had a mile to go!
The difference between the Past Perfect and the Past Perfect Continuous Inclusive is that the latter refers to earlier past activities of certain duration that were either still in progress at a given later time in the past or completed by that time.
The Past Perfect Inclusive is used with verbs not admitting of the Continuous form and in negative sentences.
The Past Perfect Continuous shouldnt be confused with Past Continuous. The Past Continuous is used to denote an action going on at a definite moment in the past, no previous duration is expressed. e.g. And now it was raining, had been raining for days the miserable fall rains of Eastern France. The car was waiting at the kerb. It had been waiting for two hours.
2) The Past Perfect Continuous Exclusive denotes an action which was no longer going on at a definite moment in the past, but which had been in progress not long before. = a past action of certain duration which had visible results in the past. e.g. All roads were blocked: it had been snowing all night long. Her fingers hurt because she had been playing guitar all day. She looked tired because she had been exercising all morning.
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FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The Future Perfect Continuous Tense is formed by means of auxiliary verb to be in the Future Perfect Tense (will have been) and Participle I of the notional verb.
It is used to denote an action which will begin before a definite moment in the future, will continue up to that moment and will be going on at that moment. = It denotes an action lasting for a period of time up to or including a certain future moment.
This moment can be indicated by an adverbial with the preposition by or by another future action.
The Future Perfect Continuous (not the Future Perfect) is normally used to emphasize the process rather than the future result.
As with all Continuous tenses the Future Perfect Continuous is not used with stative verbs which take the Future Perfect instead. e.g. By the end of the year, they will have been working at this project for two years. We will have been working at this problem for a month when you visit us for a second time. By this time next month he will have been studying the piano for 2 years.
Exercises: THE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Ex. 1. Explain the use of the Present Perfect Continuous:
1. You are looking pale, William. I fear, you've been overworking yourself lately. 2. I've been writing for this journal for so many years. 3. Your wifes been telling me, that you've not been sleeping very well lately. 4. Your clothes are dirty. -Yes, I've been playing football. 5. Rosemary, I've been thinking that we need another colour for the room. 6.I've been wearing spectacles since my childhood. 7. I don't want anyone to know I've been crying. 8. I'm hot. I've been running for a long time. 9. The baby has been sleeping since you left. 10. I've been saving up money to go to Italy.
Ex. 2. Explain the use of the Present Perfect in t n of the Present Perfect Continuous:
1. Then a year ago he disappeared and I've never heard from him since. 2. I haven't had a minute of rest since I came in. 3. He has made nothing but trouble for years. 4. He hasn't seen him for a week. 5. He hasn't changed in ten years I've known f n. 6. I'm hungry. I haven't had anything since last night. 7. Here I am' Have you waited long. 8. We haven't had lessons lately The teacher is 11. 9. This is the happiest evening I have had in a long while. 10.1 am not late I have been in for some time.
Ex. 3. Use the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous:
1. I (to be) busy since we last met. 2. I'm very fond of Alice but I (not to s) much other lately. 3. You look tired. - I (to walk) around all day I (to have) a few drinks and nothing to eat. 4. 1 (to cook, to clean) for three days preparing for the party. 5. I don't think that your mother is glad. What she (to say) to you? 6. Imagine how much they (to learn) since they (to be) here. 7. I (to sit) down in my office. So 1 am quite happy to stand. 8. There (to be) no guests at all since I left? 9. He quitted his job ten years ago and (not to work) since. 10. My son is not a bad boy. He. 5 going through a difficult phase - He (to go) though his difficult phase for fifteen years.
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Ex. 4. Use the Present Perfect Continuous or the Present Continuous:
1. What you (to look) at? -1 (to look) at the picture. I (to look) at it for half an hour, but can't understand the idea of it. 2. What Mary (to do)? - She (to practise) the piano. She (to play) it since 12 o'clock. 3. Here you arc at last! We (to search) you everywhere. 4. Why (to smile) Robert? - 1 (to watch) the kitten. I never (see) such a funny kitten before! 5. 1 sec you (to write) letters the whole morn- i ng. Is the last letter you (to write) now? 6. You (to sit) here for a long time. You (to wait) for anybody? 7. How long you (to study) English? -1 (to study) it for three years. 8. 1 (to work) at my report since Monday. 1 (to write) a conclusion now. 9. Mrs. Brown (to rest) in the garden the whole morning. She (to feel) t red. 10. She (to sleep) for ten hours! She always (to sleep) so long. 11. Davie (to repair) the TV set. He (to work) at it for an hour or so. 12. David (to wash) his hands. He just (to repair) it. 13. Why you all (to laugh)? - Jim (to tell) a funny joke. 14. It's six o'clock. 1 still (to sit) here. I (to wait) for Jane so long.
Ex. 5. Translate using the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous:
1. . . 2. . . 3. ? 4. . 5. , . 15 . 6. . . 7. . . 8. , . 9. ? - , . . 10. , ? . - . 11. , , ? - . 12. . . 13. . . 14. . . 15. . . 16. , . , - ? - . 17. . , - - , - . 18. . . 19. ? ? 20. . - . 21. . , . . - . 22. , . 23. , , . . . 24. ! ? - . . 25. , .
Ex. 6. Say, what has just happened to cause the state of things:
1. His clothes are wet. (to walk in the rain). 2. You look upset, (to say dreadful things about...). 3. I'm so glad to be able to talk to someone, (to have a very dull time). 4. Why do you think I ought to give up my job? (to talk to the doctor). 5. You look excited (to try to talk). 6. He is very tired, (to overwork). 7. The streets are wet. (to rain). 8. I can't write a long letter now (to write too many official papers). 9. The air in the room is hazy, (to smoke a great deal).
