Introduction:
Begin by explaining that the Present Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous tenses describe actions that have been ongoing over a period of time. Present Perfect Continuous relates to actions that started in the past and are still happening, while Past Perfect Continuous describes actions that were ongoing in the past until a specific point.
Part 1: Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Definition: The Present Perfect Continuous tense describes an action that started in the past, is ongoing in the present, and may continue into the future.
Examples:
I have been studying English for two hours.
She has been working on the project since morning.
We have been waiting for the bus for thirty minutes.
They have been playing basketball all afternoon.
He has been practicing the guitar for a long time.
Activity:
Ask students to identify and create sentences using the Present Perfect Continuous tense, emphasizing ongoing actions that started in the past.
Part 2: Changing the Form of Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Guidelines:
Form: Have/has + been + present participle (-ing form of the verb)
Example: I have been running every day.
Activity:
Provide sentences in other tenses and ask students to convert them into the Present Perfect Continuous tense.
Part 3: Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Definition: The Past Perfect Continuous tense describes an action that was ongoing in the past until a specific point or another action occurred.
Examples:
They had been studying for hours before the exam.
She had been cooking dinner when the guests arrived.
We had been working on the project for weeks before presenting it.
He had been traveling around the world before settling down.
I had been practicing the piano for years before the concert.
Activity:
Encourage students to identify and create sentences using the Past Perfect Continuous tense, focusing on actions that were ongoing in the past.
Part 4: Changing the Form of Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Guidelines:
Form: Had + been + present participle (-ing form of the verb)
Example: She had been studying all night before the exam.
Activity:
Provide sentences in other tenses and ask students to convert them into the Past Perfect Continuous tense.
Review the key points about Present Perfect Continuous and Past Perfect Continuous tenses. Emphasize the duration and ongoing nature of the actions described by these tenses.
