Past Continuous VS Present Perfect Continuous

Past Continuous VS Present Prefect Continuous

Past Continuous

We use was (for I, he, she, it) or were (for we, you, they) as an auxiliary verb and the main verb has the ending -ing. This structure does not much change in the affirmative, interrogative and negative sentences.

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I was looking at my watch when this happened. - Was I looking at my watch when this happened? - I wasn't looking at my watch when this happened.

Children were growing. - Were children growing? - Children weren't growing.​

Past Continuous

There are four options of usage the Past Continuous Tense:

1) ​an interrupted process: We were running when she fell.

2) ​a long-lasting action: Everyone was sitting quietly.

3) ​a repeated action: You were feeding birds after work.

4) ​changes or growth: Her hair was going gray.

Form your own sentences as examples

There are four options of usage the Past Continuous Tense:

1) ​an interrupted process

2) ​a long-lasting action

3) ​a repeated action

4) ​changes or growth

Present Perfect Continuous

It is made up of two elements: the Present Perfect and the Present Continuous. So we have a compound auxiliary verb have been (for I, you, we, they) or has been (for he, she, it) and the main verb with the ending -ing. The structure does not change much in the affirmative, interrogative and negative sentences.​

They have been watching TV all day. - ​Have they been watching TV all day? - They haven't been watching TV all day.

​She has been running. - Has she been running? - She hasn't been running.

Present Perfect Continuous

We use it in two cases:

1) ​actions started in the past and continue in the present: They have been watching TV all day (and they still are doing this).

2) ​actions have just finished but we are interested in the results: She has been running (this is why she is breathing so hard).

Multiple Choice

I (to live) in England all my life. Now it's hard for me to live in the USA.

• was living

• have been living

Multiple Choice

They (to meet) after school.

• were meeting

• have been meeting

Multiple Choice

The city (to change) quickly until a nuclear catastrophe.

• was changing

• have been changing

Multiple Choice

I (to practise) every day, three times a day.

• was practising

• have been practising

Multiple Choice

We (to walk) all this time. As you can see, we are still doing this.

• were walking

• have been walking

Multiple Choice

My head (to ache).

• was aching

• have been aching

Well done!