Impact-e English Training

The Present Perfect Progressive

Uses
Form

When do we use the Present Perfect Progressive?

The Present Perfect Progressive combines aspects of the Present Progressive and the Present Perfect . Please remember that this tense is used less than 5% of the time - so don't overuse it! When we do use it, it is:

to emphasize the length of an action (Progressive) and show that it started in the past and has recently (just) stopped or is still true now. (It is often not clear or does not matter if the action has been completed or not.)
- has recently ( just ) stopped
  - e.g. I've been working for over ten hours. Now it's time for a break!
- is still true now
  - e.g. It has been raining all day. (And it is still raining now.)
- Has the action been completed or not?
  - e.g. Question: Why are your hands so dirty?
  - Answer: I have been trying to fix the copy machine.
to ask or say how long something has been happening
- In this sense it is often used with how long, since or for.
  - e.g. How long have you been working for this company?
to emphasize or show that it is a long time
- You can use this tense to show that it is a long period of time although it may not seem to be.
  - e.g. I have been working for this company for over a year now.
to explain a situation
- Sarah has black ink all over herself!
- Yes, I think she has been trying to fix the copy machine.
for actions repeated over a period of time
- Does your department have training sessions here often?
- Oh yes. We have been having them every month for three years now.

* Present Perfect Progressive vs. Present Perfect

While the Present Perfect usually focuses more on the result of the action (how much has been done, how many things have been done, or how many times something has been done), the Present Perfect Progressive tends to focus on the length of the action.

Present Perfect Progressive	Present Perfect
I have been calling customers all day.	I have called twenty customers today.
How long have you been working on those slides for the presentation?	How many of those slides for the presentation have you finished?
I have been training this company for five years.	How often have you trained the human resources group this year?

Forms

How do I make the tense?	The Present Perfect Progressive is formed with the Present Perfect form of the verb to be (has been / have been) and the -ing form of the verb.
Here are examples of:
Statements:	I have (I’ve) been working here since last year. You have (You’ve) been working here since last year. She has (She’s) been working here since last year. He has (He’s) been working here since last year. It has (It’s) been working since last year. (E.g. the computer) We have (We’ve) been working here since last year. You have (You’ve) been working here since last year. They have (They’ve) been working here since last year.
Questions:	How long have I been working here? How long have you been working here? How long has she been working here? How long has he been working here? How long has it been working? How long have we been working here? How long have you been working here? How long have they been working here?
Negatives:	I have not (haven’t) been working here very long. You have not (haven’t) been working here very long. She has not (hasn’t) been working here very long. He has not (hasn’t) been working here very long. It has not (hasn’t) been working very long. We have not (haven’t) been working here very long. You have not (haven’t) been working here very long. They have not (haven’t) been working here very long.
Short answers	Yes, I have. Yes, she has. No, I have not. No, I haven’t No, she has not. No, she hasn’t.