Learning English #2 – Present Perfect Progressive
1. The Formula of Present Perfect Progressive
Subject + have/has + been + Verb-ing + object/comp. (Positive)
I have been waiting here for one hour
Subject + have/has + not + been + Verb-ing + object/comp. (Negative)
I have been waiting here for one hour
Have/has + subject + been + Verb-ing + object/comp. (question)
Have you been waiting here for one hour
2. The use of Present Perfect Progressive
A. Present Perfect Progressive is used to indicate the duration of an activity that began in the past and continues to the present. When the tense has this meaning , it is used with time words such as for, since, all morning, all day, all week.
Examples :
I have been sitting here since nine o’clock.
I have been sitting here *for two hours.
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B. Present Perfect Progressive is used without any specific mention of time, it expresses a general activity in progress recently, lately.
Examples:
I have been thinking about changing my major.
All of the students have been studying hard. Final exams start next week.
My back hurts, so I have been sleeping on the floor lately. The bed is too soft.
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C. With certain verb (most notably live, work, teach), there is little or no differences in meaning between the two tense (Present Perfect and Present Perfect Prograssive) when since or for is used.
Example :
I have lived here since 2000.
I have been livinng here since 2000.
He has worked at the same store for ten years.
He has working at the same store for ten years.
Reference : Understanding and Using English Grammar, written by Betty Schrampfer Azar, 1989.
Regards,
Mrs. Don