Transcript Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Continuous…
 Expresses a past action that is continuing into the present
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From the past until now
 Is also referred to as Present Perfect Progressive
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“Perfect” implies a “perfected” or “completed” action
regardless of when the action took place
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“Progressive” implies that the action is on-going, or “in progress”

They have been skating around the issue for hours.
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I have been moving books from one shelf to another all day.
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He has been grinding his teeth.
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She has been high-fiving everyone.
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 What you’ll need (in order of appearance):
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The auxiliary verb “have” in present tense: has / have
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Auxiliary verbs are also known as helping verbs
The “be” verb in the past tense: been
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It may seem strange to combine present and past tense but remember
that this is an on-going action from the past to the present.
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The main verb of the sentence with the addition of “-ing” at the end

I have been waiting for you for hours.
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He has been picking his nose.
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They have been watching him while he does it.
A note on duration
 A “duration phrase” often appears at the end of present
perfect progressive statements:
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The duration phrase brings clarity to the statement by giving a
specific amount of time in which the action has progressed:

…for the last two weeks
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…for the last two years
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…for the last two minutes
 …but not always…
A note on duration
 Present Perfect Progressive statements without a duration
phrase simply imply “lately” as the duration

Using this tense in a question implies that the speaker can
observe (feel / smell / hear / see) the results of the action:

Have you been baking pies (lately)?
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Have you been working out (lately)?
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Have you been flossing (lately)?
 BEWARE: Present Perfect Progressive statements or questions can be
seen as harsh or even insulting, so use them carefully.
Extra Exposure
 Coach has been taking it easy.
 Lawyers have been briefing
 Has she been listening?
 They have been crashing at Sam’s.
 His performances have been slipping.
 Citizens have been combing the city for clues.