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Present perfect BE-ING

English conjugation sheet · HAVE-EN + BE-ING + ∅/s

Form HAVE-EN + BE-ING + ∅/s

1Unaccomplished action

The process began in the past and is still ongoing or has just stopped — often with for and since.

  • I have been working here for three years. (for + duration)
  • She has been studying since this morning. (since + starting point)
  • Don't tidy up the table, I 've been writing my essay. (the subject has not yet finished writing the essay)
  • You 've been watching the 8 o'clock news. (the presenter signals that the action is coming to an end, but it is still "fresh" in the viewer's mind)

2Specific situation — temporary / unusual / exceptional

  • He has been sleeping on the couch lately.
  • She has been taking the bus since her car broke down.

3Perceptible traces in the present as a contingent consequence of a past action

Explanation

The speaker explains present perceptible traces by a past action. Since this is an explanation, the adverb because may appear or remain implied.

  • My hands are covered in flour: I 've been baking a cake.
  • I'm out of breath because I 've been running.

Deduction (the speaker infers an activity from clues)

  • Your eyes are red. Have you been crying?
  • You look exhausted. You have been running.
  • There's flour everywhere. She has been baking.

Accusation (with you as subject)

  • You have been smoking again, haven't you?
  • You have been going through my things!

Recent event (effects still present)

  • I'm out of breath. I have been running.
  • He's soaking wet. He has been standing in the rain.
+ Possible subjective comment: He has been drinking again. (disapproval) · She has been complaining all day. (annoyance)

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Present (∅/s)

Present simple∅ + ∅/sProperty of a subject (characteristic, habit), general truths, future event, succession of events, one-off action.Present BE-INGBE-ING + ∅/sUnaccomplished action, temporary or exceptional situation, frame for a one-off action, explanation, planned future, modal uses with not and always.Present perfect simpleHAVE-EN + ∅/sResult of an accomplished action, assessment, experience gained by the subject, explanation, hot news.Present perfect BE-INGHAVE-EN + BE-ING + ∅/sUnaccomplished action, temporary or exceptional situation, perceptible traces in the present of a past action.

Preterite (-ED)

Preterite simple∅ + -EDTemporal value, modal value (unreal), both at once, politeness value.Preterite BE-INGBE-ING + -EDTemporal value, modal value (unreal), politeness value.Past perfect simple or BE-INGHAVE-EN (+ BE-ING) + -EDPresent perfect values shifted to the past, anteriority, discourse strategy, reported speech, past unreal, tentative use.

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