In English grammar, the perfect continuous tense, also known as the perfect progressive tense, is used to describe actions or situations that started in the past, have been ongoing, and are relevant to the present or to a specific point in time. There are two primary perfect continuous tenses:
The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or situations that started in the past and have continued up to the present moment or have just recently stopped. It emphasizes the duration and continuity of the action. This tense is formed by using the present tense of the verb "to have" (have or has), the word "been," and the base form of the main verb with the "-ing" ending (e.g., "I have been studying for two hours").
The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or situations that were ongoing in the past for a specified duration and were completed before another past action or point in time. It emphasizes both the duration and the completion of the action. This tense is formed by using the past tense of the verb "to have" (had), the word "been," and the base form of the main verb with the "-ing" ending (e.g., "She had been working all night before she got some rest").
In English grammar, the future perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions or situations that will have been ongoing for a certain duration before a specific point in the future. This tense combines elements of both duration and completion. It is formed by using the future perfect tense of the verb "to have" (will have), the word "been," and the base form of the main verb with the "-ing" ending (e.g., "By this time next year, I will have been working here for ten years").
The perfect continuous tenses allow speakers and writers to convey the idea of an action or situation that has been in progress and has a connection to the present or another point in the past. It adds a layer of detail and context to sentences.
| Verb | Past Perfect Continuous | Present Perfect Continuous | Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|---|---|---|
| eat | had been eating | have/has been eating | will have been eating |
| write | had been writing | have/has been writing | will have been writing |
| run | had been running | have/has been running | will have been running |
| sleep | had been sleeping | have/has been sleeping | will have been sleeping |
| read | had been reading | have/has been reading | will have been reading |
| drink | had been drinking | have/has been drinking | will have been drinking |
| swim | had been swimming | have/has been swimming | will have been swimming |
| build | had been building | have/has been building | will have been building |
| play | had been playing | have/has been playing | will have been playing |
| teach | had been teaching | have/has been teaching | will have been teaching |