Grammar : Perfect Continuous

Hello,dear learners!

Today we'll study new verb tenses : Present and Past Perfect Continuous .

How to form Perfect Continuous ?

As usual, let's have a look at the table of verbs forms. You see, that the formular for this group is 

to have been Ving.
If you need Present Perfect Continuous form ,you should use the first auxiliary verb in its Present forms : have or has;
If you need Past Perfect Continuous form, you should use the past form of have -had.
You should remember that been and Ving are constant.

Examples:

She has been reading this novel for two weeks.
She hasn't been reading this novel for two weeks.
Has she  been reading this novel for two weeks?

She looked tired. She had been working since early morning.
                            She hadn't  been working since early morning.
                            Had she   been working since early morning?

When should we use Perfect Continuous  forms?

1. to emphasise the duration of an action which started in the past and continues up to the present.It is usually the answer to the question : How long?

I have been waiting for her since two o'clock. (How long?)







2. for an  action which started in the past and lasted for some time. The result of this  is visible in the present.
 Nick knows English well. He has been studying it for five years.








3.Past Perfect Continuous is the past equivalent of Present Perfect Continuous.

I 'm having a party tonight. I have been cooking for five hours.
I had a party yesterday. I had  been cooking for five hours.

4.Perfect Continuous tenses are usually used with the following time words:

since, for, how long, etc.