ENGLISH NOTE 10 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

ENGLISH NOTE 10

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

To express a continuous action in the past and which action is still continuing , we use present perfect continuous tense.


I have been learning French since 1980.

What does it mean ?

You started learning French in 1980. That was the beginning. You continued to learn it . You did not stop it. Even now you are learning it . Is it clear ?

He has been swimming since his childhood .

Kids have been waiting for their father since 5pm. It is 9pm now. He has not yet come.

I think the above examples are sufficient .

How will you identify present perfect continuous tense ?

Subject + have/ has + been + the relevant verb in gerund form ( ending in - ing )

You know already when to use " have" and " has".

While reading English texts or listening to English programmes in TV or Radio,
identify the present perfect continuous and understand why it has been used in preference to any other tense.

In the next note, I shall take up PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS .

Happy learning !

Sayee Jayaraman
17/02/2015