The Complete Guide to English Tenses with Infographics
The tenses (different grammar for time) in English can be a little difficult to understand. Here is a complete guide to all 12 major verb tenses in the English language, and conditional sentences. Each verb tense has Infographics and examples to help you understand how the verbs are changed in that tense, and which time each tense is for. There are also examples of the different ways that tense can be used.
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When Do I Use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
1. When something started in the past and is still happening, and you want to show how long it has been happening for. We usually use ‘for’ and ‘since’ to demonstrate the length of time.
I have been dating Nigel for 4 years now.
Have you been waiting for a long time?
She hasn’t been working here since 2004. She’s (she has) been working here since 2007.
2. When something started in the past and is still happening, but it is not important how long it has been happening. This is often a recent hobby or temporary situation. We often use ‘recently’ or ‘lately’ to demonstrate time.
Have you been reading a lot of Stephen King lately?
Jessie has been making videos about a new game recently.
He hasn’t (has not) been working extra hours to save up money lately, I wonder if he has saved enough now.
3. When something has very recently finished, and the outcome of that action is happening now.
He has been running, let’s give a few minutes to sit down.
I haven’t (have not) been painting, so I don’t need to change my clothes before we go out.
Have you been dancing? You look really tired.
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