Present Perfect Continuous

Форма Present Perfect Continuous — аналитическая, строится с помощью вспомогательного глагола to be в Present Perfect и смыслового глагола с окончанием ing (например, I have been working. He has been working, etc.)^[2].

В вопросительной форме вспомогательный глагол ставится перед подлежащим (например, Have you been working? Has she was working?, etc.). В отрицательной форме отрицательная частица not ставится после вспомогательного глагола (например, We have not been working. They have not been working, etc.). В разговорном английском языке сокращенные формы I’ve, he’s, she’s, it’s, we’ve, you’ve и they’ve используются в утвердительных предложениях, а hasn’t и haven’t — в отрицательных предложениях.

Present Perfect Continuous относится к настоящему времени. Поэтому он не используется в повествовании, где упоминаются события прошлого. Он встречается в контекстах, связанных с настоящим временем: в разговорах, газетных публикациях, репортажах, лекциях и письмах.

У Present Perfect есть два варианта употребления: Present Perfect Continuous I и Present Perfect II Continuous.

1) Present Perfect Continuous I служит для выражения действия, которое началось до момента речи и прекращается в момент речи или же вообще не прекращается. В этом значении он параллелен Present Perfect II.

• He said he was in town and wanted to see me. That was a couple of hours ago and I have been waiting ever since.
• "We've been staying here nearly a week. "I hope you are not thinking of leaving." "Her ladyship is waiting to see you and Sergeant Cuff,", he said. "How long has she been waiting?"
• I wish you'd go, Chris! We've been getting on each other's nerves lately.
• "I have been thinking about it for a long time," said Erik frankly. I've been sitting here quite a while.
• He's your elder brother. But you are the one who looks after him. You've been making excuses for him all your life.

Present Perfect Continuous I может использоваться как с непредельными, так и с предельными глаголами.

2) Present Perfect Continuous II служит для выражения действия, которое происходило совсем недавно и которое является причиной текущего положения вещей, объясняет или обосновывает положение вещей в данный момент. Точные временные рамки (т.е. начало и конец действия) не указываются.

• "Your shoes are wet." "I've been walking in the rain."
• She said: "I've been talking to your boy-friend, Adeline, and I like him."
• She's been washing her hair, but it may be dry now.
• He began abruptly: "I've been thinking about what you told me."
• Don't tell your mother what I've been saying.
• He clasped the massive woollen underwear against his chest. "Just what I need," he declared. "The moths have been eating mine."
• What have you been doing? Then Phil called: "I'll be right down. I've been shutting the windows."

Указатели времени при таком употреблении не используются. Редко можно встретить наречение just как указатель на действие, которое произошло недавно.

• Augustus has been dining with us tonight.
• I have been discussing it with Arabella this evening.
• I've just been having such a delightful chat with Margaret.

Present Perfect Continuous I и особенно Present Perfect Continuous II иногда встречаются с глаголами состояния.

• "There's one thing I've been meaning to ask you, Miles," Fred said one afternoon.
• "Hello," she said. "I'm glad you're having lunch here. I've been wanting to talk to you."
• I've been noticing these changes in you ever since you got that university degree.
• A little break like this is what she's been needing all these years.
• "Do you know Mr Nesfield?" "Oh, yes. We have been seeing him every day."