PRESENT & PAST PRESENT & PAST PERFECT PERFECT

CONTINUOUSCONTINUOUS

Present Perfect Present Perfect ContinuousContinuous

StructureStructure Affirmative:Affirmative:

Subj + have + been + V-ingSubj + have + been + V-ing

►►In 3rd person sg, we write “has”In 3rd person sg, we write “has” I/we/you/they have been studyingI/we/you/they have been studying He/she/it has been studyingHe/she/it has been studying

Negative: Negative: Subj + have + not + been + V –ingSubj + have + not + been + V –ing

►►In 3rd person sg, we write “has not”In 3rd person sg, we write “has not” I/we/you/they haven’t been studyingI/we/you/they haven’t been studying He/she/it hasn’t been studyingHe/she/it hasn’t been studying

InterrogativeInterrogative Have + Subj + been + V-ing?Have + Subj + been + V-ing?

►►In 3rd person sg, we write “has”In 3rd person sg, we write “has” Have I/We/You/They been studying?Have I/We/You/They been studying? Has He/She/It/ been studying?Has He/She/It/ been studying?

UsesUses

We talk about actions which began in We talk about actions which began in the past and continue in the present. the past and continue in the present. He’s been living in Madrid since January. He’s been living in Madrid since January.

Past activities that have a result in the Past activities that have a result in the present. present. They’ve been working hard all morning They’ve been working hard all morning

(Now they’re tired). (Now they’re tired).

The difference with PRESENT The difference with PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE: PERFECT SIMPLE: The present perfect simple is used to The present perfect simple is used to

emphasise how many times or how emphasise how many times or how often an action happens. often an action happens. I’ve met her three timesI’ve met her three times I’ve phoned her every dayI’ve phoned her every day

We use the present perfect continuous to We use the present perfect continuous to emphasise how long an action continuesemphasise how long an action continues It’s been raining since three o’clockIt’s been raining since three o’clock

Present Perfect continuous also focuses Present Perfect continuous also focuses on the action/situation itself, while the on the action/situation itself, while the perfect simple focuses more at the perfect simple focuses more at the ideas of ocmpletion and present result. ideas of ocmpletion and present result.

PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUSCONTINUOUS

StructureStructure AffirmativeAffirmative

Subj + had + been + V-ingSubj + had + been + V-ing He had been waiting for an hour when she He had been waiting for an hour when she

appearedappeared NegativeNegative

Subj + had + not + been + V-ingSubj + had + not + been + V-ing She hadn’t been waiting for an hour when he She hadn’t been waiting for an hour when he

appearedappeared InterrogativeInterrogative

Had + subj + been + V-ing?Had + subj + been + V-ing? Had he been waiting for an hour when she Had he been waiting for an hour when she

appeared?appeared?

UsesUses

To express extended actions that had To express extended actions that had been happening in the past before a been happening in the past before a shorter action. shorter action. They had been playing for several minutes They had been playing for several minutes

when the bell rang. when the bell rang. To emphasize the action that had been To emphasize the action that had been

in process before another one more in process before another one more recent, both in the past. recent, both in the past. The passengers were afraid because their The passengers were afraid because their

driver had been drinking. driver had been drinking.