Examples Of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense play an essential role in helping learners understand how this tense functions in real-life situations. In this guide, you’ll explore clear definitions, easy-to-follow formulas, practical uses, and over 200 example sentences that make learning both simple and effective.

If you want to master this tense, going through examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense is one of the best ways to learn naturally.

Definition

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense describes an action that began in the past and is still happening now, or has just stopped but has a present result.

Formulas

Type Formula Example
Affirmative Subject + have/has + been + verb-ing She has been studying.
Negative Subject + have/has + not + been + verb-ing They have not been working.
Interrogative Have/Has + subject + been + verb-ing? Have you been waiting?

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Uses (With Simple Examples)

Use 1: Actions Continuing Now

We use this tense when an action began earlier and is continuing at the present moment.

Examples:

  • She has been reading the book for two hours.

  • I have been learning English since last year.

Use 2: Duration (For / Since)

We often use for (a length of time) and since (a starting point).

Examples:

  • They have been working here for five years.

  • He has been playing the guitar since 2018.

Use 3: Recent Activity

The action may have stopped, but we can still see or feel the result now.

Examples:

  • She is tired because she has been running.

  • It smells good because someone has been cooking.

Use 4: Repeated / Temporary Actions

We use it for activities that happen again and again during a short period.

Examples:

  • I have been talking to many people today.

  • He has been calling me a lot this week.

Below, you’ll find over 200 examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense from daily life, study, work, travel, and more.

200+ Examples Of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Daily Life – 35 Sentences

  1. I have been cleaning the kitchen.

  2. She has been cooking dinner.

  3. They have been fixing the car.

  4. He has been washing the dishes.

  5. We have been waiting for the bus.

  6. I have been folding the clothes.

  7. She has been watering the plants.

  8. He has been sweeping the floor.

  9. They have been organizing the room.

  10. I have been brushing my teeth.

  11. She has been feeding the dog.

  12. He has been taking out the trash.

  13. We have been making plans for the weekend.

  14. I have been cleaning my room.

  15. They have been doing the laundry.

  16. She has been checking her messages.

  17. He has been looking for his keys.

  18. I have been ironing my clothes.

  19. We have been packing our bags.

  20. They have been preparing breakfast.

  21. She has been watching the kids.

  22. I have been taking care of the house.

  23. He has been fixing the lights.

  24. We have been painting the walls.

  25. I have been boiling the water.

  26. She has been setting the table.

  27. They have been cleaning the windows.

  28. He has been opening the mail.

  29. I have been feeding the cat.

  30. We have been planning a party.

  31. She has been calling her friends.

  32. He has been charging his phone.

  33. They have been checking the bills.

  34. I have been washing my hands.

  35. We have been cleaning the garage.

200+ Examples Of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Study & Education – 25 Sentences

  1. I have been studying English every day.

  2. She has been practicing her writing skills.

  3. They have been working on their homework.

  4. He has been reading his textbook.

  5. We have been learning new vocabulary.

  6. I have been preparing for the exam.

  7. She has been reviewing her notes.

  8. He has been doing research online.

  9. They have been studying for the test.

  10. I have been writing an essay.

  11. She has been solving math problems.

  12. We have been practicing grammar rules.

  13. He has been memorizing the formulas.

  14. They have been reading short stories.

  15. I have been taking online classes.

  16. She has been joining study groups.

  17. He has been watching lesson videos.

  18. We have been preparing a presentation.

  19. They have been working on a science project.

  20. I have been highlighting important points.

  21. She has been organizing her study materials.

  22. He has been practicing speaking with friends.

  23. They have been reading for the quiz.

  24. I have been improving my handwriting.

  25. She has been learning new languages.

Work & Office – 25 Sentences

  1. I have been writing emails all morning.

  2. He has been preparing the report.

  3. She has been calling clients.

  4. They have been organizing files.

  5. We have been planning the meeting.

  6. I have been updating the spreadsheet.

  7. She has been scheduling appointments.

  8. He has been checking the project status.

  9. They have been working overtime this week.

  10. I have been meeting with my team.

  11. She has been printing documents.

  12. He has been fixing computer issues.

  13. We have been reviewing the budget.

  14. They have been training new staff.

  15. I have been writing the presentation.

  16. She has been taking notes during the call.

  17. He has been organizing his desk.

  18. They have been preparing the conference room.

  19. I have been helping my coworkers.

  20. She has been checking the company data.

  21. He has been updating the website.

  22. We have been signing forms.

  23. They have been testing new software.

  24. I have been planning my schedule.

  25. She has been tracking the sales numbers.

Health & Fitness – 25 Sentences

  1. I have been exercising every morning.

  2. She has been drinking more water.

  3. He has been stretching before workouts.

  4. They have been eating more vegetables.

  5. We have been walking every evening.

  6. I have been lifting weights.

  7. She has been practicing yoga.

  8. He has been jogging in the park.

  9. They have been following a diet plan.

  10. I have been tracking my steps.

  11. She has been taking her vitamins.

  12. He has been avoiding junk food.

  13. We have been doing home workouts.

  14. They have been checking their blood pressure.

  15. I have been getting more sleep.

  16. She has been counting her calories.

  17. He has been working on his posture.

  18. They have been joining fitness classes.

  19. I have been reducing my sugar intake.

  20. She has been practicing deep breathing.

  21. He has been improving his balance.

  22. We have been running small races.

  23. They have been drinking green tea.

  24. I have been following my doctor’s advice.

  25. She has been focusing on healthy habits.

Travel & Journey – 20 Sentences

  1. I have been planning my trip.

  2. She has been packing her suitcase.

  3. He has been saving money for travel.

  4. They have been checking flight prices.

  5. We have been looking at hotel options.

  6. I have been reading travel guides.

  7. She has been preparing her passport.

  8. He has been learning basic phrases.

  9. They have been planning their route.

  10. I have been searching for good deals.

  11. She has been booking tickets online.

  12. He has been preparing his travel bag.

  13. We have been checking the weather forecast.

  14. They have been planning a road trip.

  15. I have been taking travel photos.

  16. She has been exploring new cities.

  17. He has been buying travel gear.

  18. They have been visiting famous places.

  19. I have been waiting at the airport.

  20. She has been checking her boarding pass.

Weather & Nature – 20 Sentences

  1. It has been raining all morning.

  2. The wind has been blowing strongly.

  3. The sun has been shining brightly.

  4. The clouds have been gathering.

  5. The river has been rising after the storm.

  6. Birds have been singing outside.

  7. Leaves have been falling from the trees.

  8. Snow has been covering the fields.

  9. The temperature has been dropping.

  10. Flowers have been blooming early.

  11. The sky has been clearing slowly.

  12. Waves have been crashing on the shore.

  13. The forest has been growing thicker.

  14. The weather has been changing quickly.

  15. The air has been getting colder.

  16. The storm has been getting stronger.

  17. The garden has been growing well.

  18. The insects have been buzzing around.

  19. The sun has been setting later.

  20. Rain has been falling through the night.

Family & Relationships – 20 Sentences

  1. I have been helping my parents.

  2. She has been calling her grandparents.

  3. He has been supporting his brother.

  4. They have been planning family events.

  5. We have been talking more often.

  6. I have been visiting my cousins.

  7. She has been taking care of her sister.

  8. He has been spending time with his kids.

  9. They have been solving problems together.

  10. I have been sharing meals with my family.

  11. She has been writing messages to her friends.

  12. He has been meeting new people.

  13. We have been building stronger relationships.

  14. They have been helping each other.

  15. I have been learning to be patient.

  16. She has been listening to her partner.

  17. He has been making plans with his family.

  18. They have been visiting relatives.

  19. I have been giving advice to friends.

  20. She has been celebrating special moments.

Habit & Routine – 20 Sentences

  1. I have been waking up early every day.

  2. She has been drinking tea each morning.

  3. He has been reading before bed.

  4. They have been walking after dinner.

  5. We have been practicing good habits.

  6. I have been writing in my journal.

  7. She has been meditating daily.

  8. He has been checking his planner.

  9. They have been eating breakfast at home.

  10. I have been taking short breaks at work.

  11. She has been learning one new word a day.

  12. He has been cleaning his desk often.

  13. We have been keeping a daily routine.

  14. They have been planning their days better.

  15. I have been setting small goals.

  16. She has been tracking her habits.

  17. He has been practicing guitar every night.

  18. They have been waking up on time.

  19. I have been drinking more water daily.

  20. She has been cooking healthier meals.

Mixed General – 20 Sentences

  1. I have been thinking about new ideas.

  2. She has been trying different hobbies.

  3. He has been learning to drive.

  4. They have been playing board games.

  5. We have been helping our neighbors.

  6. I have been practicing my skills.

  7. She has been exploring new hobbies.

  8. He has been saving money.

  9. They have been talking about their future.

  10. I have been enjoying quiet mornings.

  11. She has been taking photos of nature.

  12. He has been learning to cook.

  13. We have been spending time outdoors.

  14. They have been reading news articles.

  15. I have been trying to stay positive.

  16. She has been learning new recipes.

  17. He has been following his goals.

  18. They have been building new habits.

  19. I have been planning fun activities.

  20. She has been listening to music.

While learning from examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense, students often make these common errors.

Common Mistakes in Present Perfect Continuous (With Solutions)

Students often make mistakes when forming or using the Present Perfect Continuous. Here are the most common errors, explained in simple English with Wrong vs Correct examples.

1. Using the wrong helping verb (“have” or “has”)

Some learners forget to match have/has with the subject.

Wrong:

  • She have been studying.
    Correct:  She has been studying.

Wrong:

  • They has been talking.
    Correct:  They have been talking.

2. Forgetting the word “been”

“Been” must always appear between have/has and the –ing verb.

Wrong:

  • I have working all day.
    Correct: I have been working all day.

Wrong:

  • He has learning Spanish.
    Correct: He has been learning Spanish.

Common Mistakes in Present Perfect Continuous (Wrong vs Correct)

3. Using the base verb instead of the –ing form

The main verb in this tense must end in –ing.

Wrong:

  • She has been cook for an hour.
    Correct: She has been cooking for an hour.

Wrong:

  • They have been play outside.
    Correct: They have been playing outside.

4. Mixing up “since” and “for”

Use since + a starting point.
Use for + a length of time.

Wrong:

  • I have been waiting since two hours.
    Correct: I have been waiting for two hours.

Wrong:

  • She has been working for 2018.
    Correct: She has been working since 2018.

5. Using the tense for finished actions

Do not use the Present Perfect Continuous if the action is fully finished and has no present effect.

Wrong:

  • I have been watching the movie yesterday.
    (Cannot use PPC with specific past time words like yesterday)

Correct:  I watched the movie yesterday.

6. Confusing Present Perfect with Present Perfect Continuous

Some students use the wrong tense when talking about shorter, completed actions or long continuing actions.

Wrong:

  • I have learned English for 5 years.
    (This sounds like the learning is finished.)

Correct (ongoing action):  I have been learning English for 5 years.

Comparison: Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

Feature Present Perfect Tense Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Focus Result of the action Duration or ongoing action
Structure Have/Has + past participle Have/Has + been + verb-ing
Used for Completed actions with present effect Actions still happening or recently in progress
Time Expressions Already, just, yet, ever, never For, since, lately, recently
Example (Use) I have finished the report. (result) I have been working on the report. (ongoing)
Another Example She has read the book. (finished reading) She has been reading the book. (not finished, still in progress)

FAQs About Present Perfect Continuous Tense

1. What is the Present Perfect Continuous Tense used for?

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue into the present, or actions that recently stopped but still have an effect now. It also helps show the duration of an activity.

2. How do I form sentences in the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

This tense is formed using have/has + been + verb-ing.
Examples:

  • She has been studying.

  • They have been working.

This structure applies to affirmative, negative, and question forms.

3. What are some common mistakes students make with the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?

Students often forget to include “been”, use the wrong verb form, or confuse since and for. Another common error is using this tense with finished past time expressions like “yesterday.”

By reading real-life examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense, learners can quickly understand how and when to use this tense confidently.

Conclusion

The Present Perfect Continuous Tense is useful for talking about actions that began in the past and are still happening now or have just stopped. It helps us show how long something has been happening and why it matters in the present.
By practicing the structure and using time words like for and since, beginners can understand and use this tense with confidence. If you keep practicing with simple sentences, the tense will soon feel natural and easy to use.

Index