Grammar Lesson (Verb Tense): Present Perfect Continuous (Recently Finished)

REVIEW

A) A situation/condition that started in the past and continues to the present. We use Present Perfect (has/have + been)

Example: “She has been an actress since she was 12 years old.” (= She started when she was 12, and she is still an actress. She is 70 years old now.)

B) An action that started in the past and continues to the present. We use Present Perfect Continuous (has/have + been + ing)

Example: "It has been raining since Friday." (= It started to rain last Friday, and it is still raining now.)

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS is also used when the action started in the past and you just recently finished (not more than an hour, and you can still see the clues or feel the effect.)

To use the present perfect continuous in this context, you need three things:

1. Focus on the length of time: How long did you do it? = 3 hours
2. The action was completed recently: Did you stop very recently? = Yes, I stopped 5 minutes ago.
3. You can still feel, see, hear, or smell the effects: Do you still feel the effects? What? = Yes, I am so tired, and my hands hurt.

 

 

BUT when a lot of time has passed, the clues are already gone, and you don’t feel the effect anymore, you don’t need to use present perfect continuous. Just use the PAST TENSE.

Other examples:
Have you been running? You look sweaty [Tu as couru ? Tu as l'air en sueur.] (I assume that you just recently finished running because you look sweaty.)

I see my friend. His eyes are wet and swollen [Ses yeux sont humides et gonflés], but he is not crying anymore. I ask, “Have you been crying?”  (I assume he just recently stopped crying.)

Did you run this morning? (I'm not sure if you ran this morning because I don't see any clues, so I asked. I just use the past tense.)

Practice:

1. My fingers hurt because I ____ for 2 hours straight.
a. typed
b. have been typing.

2. This morning, I ____ with some friends. After that, I took a shower and relaxed.
a. jogged.
b. have been jogging. 

3. Your face looks red, and you smell like beer.
a. Did you drink?
b. Have you been drinking?

4. I heard that you went out with Dan and Deena last Saturday.
a. Did you drink?
b. Have you been drinking?

Answers: 1 – B, 2 – A, 3 – B, 4 – A.