Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Examples, Structure, Exercises in Hindi, video explanation, rules and formulae, difference of usage of ‘since’ and ‘for’

Present Perfect Continuous Tense - This article includes definition, rules for forming sentences in the present perfect continuous tense, difference between ‘for’ and ‘since’. Also examples of negative, interrogative and negative interrogative sentences have been given along each formula. All this is simultaneously explained in Hindi for better understanding. There are examples and exercises at the end so that you are able to assess how much you have learnt about the present perfect continuous tense.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Definition

The present perfect continuous tenseshows that something started in the past and is continuing at the present time.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Examples and Formulae

The different formulae for making sentences in the present perfect continuous tense are as follows:

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Formula for First Person Singular

The formula for present perfect continuous tense when the First Person is Singular is that the sentence starts with ‘I’ followed by  ‘have been’, then a verb in its 1st form with ‘ing’, followed by an object which is optional.
So, we can say that the formula for present perfect continuous tense for First Person Singular is as follows -

 I + have been + verb (I form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) + since / for + time duration

Let us see some example sentences with formula for present perfect continuous tense when the First Person is Singular:

1) I have been studying hard for exams since Monday.

मैं सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन कर रहा हूं।

2) I have been going to work every day for the last 2 years.

मैं पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम करने जा रहा हूं।

3) I have been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months.

मैं पिछले २ महीने से शनिवार की देर रात सो रहा हूँ।

4) I have been watching a movie every week since January.

मैं जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म देख रहा हूं।

5) I have been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year.    

मैं पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को तैराकी कर रहा हूं।

For converting these sentences intonegative sentences the formula is that you add have not been before the verb and the rest of the rule remains the same.

‘I’ + have + not + been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) + since / for + time duration

Let us see some examples of negative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the First Person is Singular:

1) I have not been studying hard for exams since monday.

मैं सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन नहीं कर रहा हूं।

2) I have not been going to work every day for the last 2 years.

मैं पिछले 2 सालों से हर दिन काम पर नहीं जा रहा हूं।

3) I have not been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months.

 मैं पिछले 2 महीनों से शनिवार को देर से नहीं सो रहा हूँ।

4) I have not been watching a movie every week since January.

  मैं जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म नहीं देख रहा हूं।

5) I have not been swimming on Sunday’s for the last 1 year.

मैं पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को तैराकी नहीं कर रहा हूं ।

For converting these sentences intointerrogative sentences the formula is that you add have at the starting of the sentence followed by ‘I’ and then ‘been’.Rest of the rule remains the same.

Have + ‘I’ + been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) + since / for + time duration?

Let us see some examples of interrogative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the First Person is Singular:

1) Have I been studying hard for exams since Monday?

 क्या मैं सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए मेहनत कर रहा हूँ?

2) Have I been going to work every day for the last 2 years?

  क्या मैं पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम करने जा रहा हूं?

3) Have I been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last two months?

क्या मैं पिछले दो महीनों से शनिवार की देर रात तक सो रहा हूँ?

4) Have I been watching a movie every week since January?

 क्या मैं जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म देख रहा हूं?

5) Have I been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year?

 क्या मैं पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को तैराकी कर रहा हूं?

For converting these sentences intonegative interrogative sentences the formula is that you add have at the starting of the sentence, then the subject and then ‘not been’ and the rest of the rule remains the same.

Have + ‘I’ + not been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) + since / for + time duration?

Let us see some examples of interrogative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Person is Singular:

1) Have I not been studying hard for exams since Monday?

क्या मैं सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन नहीं कर रहा हूं?

2) Have I not been going to work every day for the last 2 years?

क्या मैं पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम नहीं कर रहा हूं?

3) Have I not been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months?

क्या मैं पिछले २ महीनों से शनिवार की देर रात तक नहीं सो रहा हूँ?

4) Have I not been watching a movie every week since January?

क्या मैं जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म नहीं देख रहा हूं?

5) Have I not been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year?

क्या मैं पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को नहीं तैर रहा हूँ?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Formula for First Person Plural

The formula for present perfect continuous tense when the First Person is Plural are that the sentence starts with ‘We’ and ‘have been’, then a verb in its 1st form with ‘ing’ followed by an object which is optional.

So, we can say that the formula for present perfect continuous tense for First Person Plural is as follows -

‘We’ + have been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) + since / for + time duration

Let us see some example sentences with formula for present perfect continuous tense when the First Person is Plural:

1) We have been studying hard for exams since January.

हम जनवरी से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन कर रहे हैं।

2) We have been going to work every day for the last 2 years.

हम पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम करने जा रहे हैं।

3) We have been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months.

 हम पिछले 2 महीनों से शनिवार की देर रात सो रहे हैं।

4) We have been watching a movie every week since January.

हम जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म देख रहे हैं।

5) We have been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year.

 हम पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को तैराकी कर रहे हैं।

For converting these sentences intonegative sentences the formula is that you add ‘not been’ before the verb and the rest of the rule remains the same.

We + have +  not been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration

Let us see some examples of negative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the First Person is Plural:

1) We have not been studying hard for exams since January.

हम जनवरी से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन नहीं कर रहे हैं।

2) We have not been going to work every day for the last 2 years.

 हम पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम करने नहीं जा रहे हैं।

3) We have not been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months.

हम पिछले 2 महीनों से शनिवार की देर रात तक नहीं सो रहे हैं।

4) We have not been watching a movie every week since January.

हम जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म नहीं देख रहे हैं।

5) We have not been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year.

हम पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को नहीं तैर रहे हैं।

For converting these sentences intointerrogative sentences the formula is that you add have at the starting of the sentence followed by ‘we been’ and the rest of the rule remains the same.

Have + ‘we been’ + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration?

Let us see some examples of interrogative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Plural:

1) Have we been studying hard for exams since January?

क्या हम जनवरी से परीक्षा के लिए मेहनत कर रहे हैं?

2) Have we been going to work every day for the last 2 years ?

 क्या हम पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम करने जा रहे हैं?

3) Have we been sleeping late on Saturday’s for the last 2 months?

क्या हम पिछले २ महीनों से शनिवार को देर रात सो रहे हैं?

4) Have we been watching a movie every week since January?

क्या हम जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म देख रहे हैं?

5) Have we been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year?

 क्या हम पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को तैराकी कर रहे हैं?

For converting these sentences intonegative interrogative sentences the formula is that you add have at the starting of the sentence, then the subject and then ‘been not’ and the rest of the rule remains the same.

Have + ‘we not been’ + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration?

Let us see some examples of interrogative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Plural:

1)  Have we not been studying hard for exams since Monday?

  क्या हम सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन नहीं कर रहे हैं?

2) Have we not been going to work every day for the last 2 years?

क्या हम पिछले 2 सालों से हर दिन काम नहीं कर रहे हैं?

3) Have we not been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months?

क्या हम पिछले 2 महीनों से शनिवार की देर रात तक नहीं सो रहे हैं?

4) Have we not been watching a movie every week since January?

क्या हम जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म नहीं देख रहे हैं?

5) Have we not been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year?

 क्या हम पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को नहीं तैर रहे हैं?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Formula for Second Person

The formula for present perfect continuous tense when there is a Second Person involved are that the sentence starts with ‘you’ and ‘have been’, then a verb in its 1st form with ‘ing’ followed by an object which is optional.
So, we can say that the formula for present perfect continuous tense when a Second Person is involved is as follows -

‘You’ + have been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration

Let us see some example sentences with formula for present perfect continuous tense when a Second Person is involved:

1) You have been studying hard for exams since Monday.

आप सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन कर रहे हैं।

2) You have been going to work every day for the last 2 years.

 आप पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम करने जा रहे हैं।

3) You have been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months.

 आप पिछले 2 महीनों से शनिवार को देर रात सो रहे हैं।

4) You have been watching a movie every week since January.

 आप जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म देख रहे हैं।

5) You have been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year.

आप पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को तैराकी कर रहे हैं।

For converting these sentences intonegative sentences the formula is that you add ‘have not been’ before the verb and the rest of the rule remains the same.

‘You’ + have’ +  not been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration

Let us see some examples of negative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when there is a second person :

1) You have not been studying hard for exams since Monday.

 आप सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन नहीं कर रहे हैं।

2) You have not been going to work everyday for the last 2 years.

 आप पिछले 2 सालों से हर रोज काम पर नहीं जा रहे हैं।

3) You have not been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months.

आप पिछले 2 महीनों से शनिवार को देर रात नहीं सो रहे हैं।

4) You have not been watching a movie every week since January.

आप जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म नहीं देख रहे हैं।

5) You have not been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year.

आप पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को नहीं जा रहे हैं।

For converting these sentences intointerrogative sentences the formula is that you add have/ has at the starting of the sentence followed by ‘you’ + ‘been’ and the rest of the rule remains the same.

Have + ‘you’ + been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration?

Let us see some examples of interrogative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when there is a Second Person Involved:

1)  Have you been studying hard for exams since Monday?

क्या आप सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन कर रहे हैं?

2) Have you been going to work every day for the last two years?

क्या आप पिछले दो वर्षों से हर दिन काम करने जा रहे हैं?

3) Have you been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last two months?

क्या आप पिछले दो महीनों से शनिवार को देर रात सो रहे हैं?

4) Have you been watching a movie every week since January?

 क्या आप जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म देख रहे हैं?

5) Have you been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year?

क्या आप पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को तैराकी कर रहे हैं?

For converting these sentences intonegative interrogative sentences the formula is that you add Have at the starting of the sentence, then the subject and then ‘not been’ and the rest of the rule remains the same

Have + ‘you’ + not been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration?

Let us see some examples of interrogative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when there is a second person involved:

1) Have you not been studying hard for exams since Monday?

क्या आप सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन नहीं कर रहे हैं?

 2) Have you not been going to work every day for the last 2 years?

क्या आप पिछले 2 सालों से हर दिन काम पर नहीं जा रहे हैं?

3) Have you not been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months?

 क्या आप पिछले २ महीनों से शनिवार को देर रात नहीं सो रहे हैं?

4) Have you not been watching a movie every week since January?

क्या आप जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म नहीं देख रहे हैं?

5) Have you not been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year?

 क्या आप पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को नहीं तैर रहे हैं?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Formula for Third Person Singular

The formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Singular are that the sentence starts with He, She, Common noun or proper noun and ‘is’, then a verb in its 1st form with ‘ing’ followed by an object which is optional.
So, we can say that the formula for present perfect continuous tense for Third Person Singular is as follows -

He/ She/ Common Nouns/ Proper Nouns + has been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) 

Let us see some example sentences with formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Singular:

1) He has been studying hard for exams since Monday.

वह सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन कर रहा है।

2) Father has been going to work every day for the last 2 years.

पिता पिछले 2 सालों से हर दिन काम करने जा रहे हैं।

3) Ram has been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months.

राम पिछले २ महीने से शनिवार  को देर से  सो रहे हैं।

4) She has been watching a movie every week since January.

वह जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म देख रही है।

5) Sham has been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year.

शाम पिछले एक साल से हर रविवार को तैर रहा है।

For converting these sentences intonegative sentences the formula is that you add ‘not been’ before the verb and the rest of the rule remains the same.

He/ She/ Common Nouns/ Proper Nouns + has + not been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) 

Let us see some examples of negative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Singular:

1) He has not been studying hard for exams since Monday.

वह सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन नहीं कर रहा है।

2) He has not been going to work every day for the last 2 years.

वह पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम पर नहीं जा रहा है।

3) He has not been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months.

वह पिछले 2 महीनों से शनिवार को देर रात तक नहीं सो रहा है।

4) He has not been watching a movie every week since January.

 वह जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म नहीं देख रहा है।

5) He has not been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year.

 वह पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को तैराकी नहीं कर रहा है।

For converting these sentences intointerrogative sentences the formula is that you add Has at the starting of the sentence followed by He/ She/ Common Nouns/ Proper Nouns with ‘been’ before the verb and the rest of the rule remains the same.

Has/ + He/ She/ Common Nouns/ Proper Nouns +  been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration?

Let us see some examples of interrogative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Singular:

1) Has he been studying hard for exams since Monday?

क्या वह सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन कर रहा है?

2) Has father been going to work every day for the last 2 years?

 क्या पिता पिछले 2 सालों से हर दिन काम करने जा रहा है?

3) Has Ram been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months?
क्या राम पिछले २ महीने से शनिवार को देर रात सो रहा है?

4) Has she been watching a movie every week since January?

क्या वह जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म देख रही है?

5) Has Sham been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year?

 क्या शाम पिछले एक साल से हर रविवार को तैर  रहा है ?

For converting these sentences intonegative interrogative sentences the formula is that you add Has at the starting of the sentence, then the subject and then ‘not been’ and the rest of the rule remains the same.

Has + He/ She/ Common Nouns/ Proper Nouns + not been+ verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration?

Let us see some examples of interrogative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Singular:

1) Has he not been studying hard for exams since Monday?

क्या वह सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन नहीं कर रहा है?

2) Has father not been going to work every day for the last 2 years?

क्या पिता पिछले 2 सालों से हर दिन काम पर नहीं जा रहा है?

3) Has Ram not been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months?

क्या राम को पिछले २ महीने से शनिवार को देर रात तक नींद नहीं आई है?

4) Has she not been watching a movie every week since January?

 क्या वह जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म नहीं देख रही है?

5) Has Sham not been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year?

क्या शाम पिछले एक साल से हर रविवार को नहीं तैरता है ?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Formula for Third Person Plural

The formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Plural is that the sentence starts with ‘They’ or common nouns and ‘have been’, then a verb in its 1st form with ‘ing’ followed by an object which is optional
So, we can say that the formula for present perfect continuous tense for Third Person Plural is as follows -

They/ Common Nouns +have been + verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration

Let us see some example sentences with formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Plural:

1) They have been studying hard for exams since Monday.

वे सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन कर रहे हैं।

2) Boys have been going to work every day for the last two years.

लड़के पिछले दो साल से हर दिन काम करने जा रहे हैं।

3) They have been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last two months.

वे पिछले दो महीनों से शनिवार को देर रात सो रहे हैं।

4) They have been watching a movie every week since January.

वे जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म देख रहे हैं।

5) Girls have been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year.

लड़कियां पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को तैराकी कर रही हैं।

For converting these sentences intonegative sentences the formula is that you add ‘not been’ before the verb and the rest of the rule remains the same.

They + Have +  not + been+ verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration

Let us see some examples of negative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Plural:

1) They have not been studying hard for exams since Monday.

वे सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन नहीं कर रहे हैं।

2) They have not been going to work every day for the last 2 years.

वे पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम पर नहीं जा रहे हैं।

3) They have not been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months.

वे पिछले 2 महीनों से शनिवार की देर रात तक नहीं सो  रहे हैं।

4) They have not been watching a movie every week since January.

वे जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म नहीं देख रहे हैं।

5) They have not been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year.

वे पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को नहीं तैर रहे हैं।

For converting these sentences intointerrogative sentences the formula is that you add have/ has at the starting of the sentence followed by ‘They/ Common nouns then been and the rest of the rule remains the same.

Have + they/ Common nouns + been+ verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration?

Let us see some examples of interrogative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Plural:

1) Have they been studying hard for exams since Monday?

 क्या वे सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन कर रहे हैं?

2)  Have they been going to work every day for the last 2 years?

क्या वे पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम करने जा रहे हैं?

3) Have they been sleeping late on Saturday’s for the last 2 months?

क्या वे पिछले २ महीनों से शनिवार को देर रात सो रहे हैं?

4) Have they been watching a movie every week since January?

क्या वे जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म देख रहे हैं?

5) Have they been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year?

क्या वे पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को तैराकी कर रहे हैं?

For converting these sentences intonegative interrogative sentences the formula is that you add  Have at the starting of the sentence, then the subject and then ‘not been ’ and the rest of the rule remains the same.

Have + They/ Common nouns + not + been+ verb (1st form) with ‘ing’ + object (optional) since / for + time duration?

Let us see some examples of interrogative sentences with the formula for present perfect continuous tense when the Third Person is Plural:

1) Have they not been studying hard for exams since Monday?

क्या वे सोमवार से परीक्षा के लिए कठिन अध्ययन नहीं कर रहे हैं?

 2) Have they not been going to work every day for the last 2 years?

 क्या वे पिछले 2 वर्षों से हर दिन काम पर नहीं जा रहे हैं?

3) Have they not been sleeping late on Saturdays for the last 2 months?

 क्या वे पिछले 2 महीनों से शनिवार को  देर रात तक सो नहीं रहे हैं?

4) Have they not been watching a movie every week since January?

क्या वे जनवरी से हर हफ्ते एक फिल्म नहीं देख रहे हैं?

5) Have they not been swimming on Sundays for the last 1 year?

क्या वे पिछले 1 साल से रविवार को नहीं तैर रहे हैं?
Difference between Usage of ‘for’ and ‘since’

‘For’ is used for a time period

‘Since’ is used to denote a point of time
Present Perfect Tense Exercise

 Translate the following sentences using the present perfect tense exercise

1. तुम पिछले पाँच वर्षों से  अंग्रेजी पढ़ा रहे हो।
2.  वो दो दिनों से यहाँ रह रही है।
3.  उस बच्चे को उसके माँ बाप दो दिन से ढूंढ रहे हैं।
4.  क्या तुम कल से खेल  रहे हो?
5.  क्या पिताजी सुबह से इंतज़ार नहीं कर रहे हैं ?

ANSWERS:

1. You have been studying English for the last five years.
2.  She has been living here for the last two years.
3.  The boy’s parents have been looking for him for the last two days.
4.  Have you been playing since yesterday?
5.  Has father not been waiting since morning?