Present Perfect Continuous vs Past Continuous
The choice between Present Perfect Continuous and Past Continuous depends on whether you want to connect past activities to the present or describe actions that were happening at specific past times. This distinction helps you show whether past activities still matter now or belong entirely to finished time periods.
Present Perfect Continuous links past duration to present results and current situations, while Past Continuous describes background activities in past narratives. Understanding this difference enables you to express time relationships clearly and show whether past actions have present relevance.
Present Perfect Continuous (have/has been + -ing)
Use for:
- Actions continuing up to now
- Recent activities with present evidence
- Duration up to the present
- Current situations that started in the past
- Activities with present results
Examples:
- I have been working here for three years. (still working here)
- She has been studying all morning. (recent activity, still tired now)
- It has been raining since yesterday. (still raining or just stopped)
- They have been living in London since 2020. (still living there)
Past Continuous (was/were + -ing)
Use for:
- Actions in progress at past times
- Background to past events
- Interrupted past actions
- Parallel past activities
- Temporary past situations
Examples:
- I was working there last year. (not working there now)
- She was studying when I called. (interrupted action)
- It was raining yesterday morning. (finished past time)
- They were living in London in 2020. (might not live there now)
Connection to Present vs Disconnection from Present
Present Perfect Continuous - Connected to Now:
Present Perfect Continuous: "I have been waiting for two hours."
→ Still waiting now, duration continues to present
Past Continuous: "I was waiting for two hours yesterday."
→ Finished waiting, no connection to now
Present Evidence vs Past Scene:
Present Perfect Continuous: "He has been running - he's out of breath."
→ Present evidence of recent activity
Past Continuous: "He was running when I saw him yesterday."
→ Description of past scene, no present relevance
Current Situation vs Past Situation:
Present Perfect Continuous: "We have been living here since January."
→ Started in past, continues now
Past Continuous: "We were living here last year."
→ Past situation, may have changed
Duration and Time Focus
Unfinished Time Periods (Present Perfect Continuous):
• "I have been working all day. (day not finished yet)"
• "She has been studying this week. (week continues)"
• "They have been renovating the house this month. (month ongoing)"
• "We have been practising for hours. (time period continues to now)"
→ Time period includes the present moment
Finished Time Periods (Past Continuous):
• "I was working all day yesterday. (yesterday is finished)"
• "She was studying last week. (last week is complete)"
• "They were renovating the house last month. (month finished)"
• "We were practising for hours before you arrived. (finished at arrival)"
→ Time period is completely in the past
Interruption vs Continuation
Past Continuous - Actions Interrupted:
• "I was cooking when the phone rang. (cooking interrupted by phone)"
• "She was reading when the lights went out. (reading interrupted)"
• "They were playing football when it started raining. (interrupted by rain)"
• "We were having dinner when guests arrived. (interrupted by arrival)"
→ Focus on the interruption of the activity
Present Perfect Continuous - Activities Continuing:
• "I have been cooking for an hour. (still cooking or just finished)"
• "She has been reading all afternoon. (activity extends to now)"
• "They have been playing football since morning. (possibly still playing)"
• "We have been having problems with the car. (problems continue)"
→ Focus on duration up to the present
Present Results and Evidence
Present Perfect Continuous - Visible Now:
• "Your hands are dirty - have you been gardening? (dirt visible now)"
• "She looks tired because she has been working all night. (tiredness now)"
• "The roads are wet - it has been raining. (wetness visible)"
• "You're sweating - have you been running? (sweat visible now)"
→ Present state shows recent activity
Past Continuous - No Present Connection:
• "Your hands were dirty yesterday - were you gardening? (past observation)"
• "She looked tired because she was working all night. (past tiredness)"
• "The roads were wet yesterday - it was raining. (past wetness)"
• "You were sweating - had you been running? (past observation)"
→ Description of past state only
Time Expressions and Signals
Present Perfect Continuous Signals:
for, since (up to now)
"I have been waiting since 3 p.m."
all day/week/month (unfinished)
"She has been studying all day."
recently, lately
"We have been seeing each other recently."
how long (up to now)
"How long have you been living here?"
Past Continuous Signals:
when, while, as
"I was sleeping when you called."
yesterday, last week, in 2020
"She was working there last year."
at that time, then
"We were living in Paris at that time."
all day/week yesterday (finished)
"It was raining all day yesterday."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ "I am working here for three years. (current state that started in past)"
✅ "I have been working here for three years."
Use Present Perfect Continuous for duration continuing to now
❌ "She has been studying when I called. (specific past interruption)"
✅ "She was studying when I called."
Use Past Continuous for interrupted past actions
❌ "It has been raining yesterday. (finished time period)"
✅ "It was raining yesterday."
Yesterday is finished - use Past Continuous
Quick Decision Guide
Ask yourself:
- Does the activity continue to the present? → Yes = Present Perfect Continuous
- Is the time period finished? → Yes = Past Continuous
- Is there present evidence of the activity? → Yes = Present Perfect Continuous
- Was the action interrupted in the past? → Yes = Past Continuous
- Are you describing a past scene? → Yes = Past Continuous
- Does the activity have current relevance? → Yes = Present Perfect Continuous