The Perfect Progressive Tenses

The perfect progressive tense (also called the perfect continuous tense) is used to say that an event or action is, was, or will be continually occurring (progressive) but that it is, was, or will be completed at a later time, or that it relates to a later time (perfect). The perfect progressive has a present, a past, and a future, just like other verb tenses.

To form the perfect progressive, use the appropriate tense of the verb have with been and the progressive (-ing) tense of the main verb.

The present perfect progressive says that a continuous action started in the past and relates to the present.

It can be used to say that a continuing action that started in the past is completed, as in "He has been working on the project for six hours and is finally finished." It can also be used to say that a continuing action that started in the past is not completed, as in "He has been working on the project for six hours and will not stop until he is finished."

Whether the continuous action "working" is completed or not completed, in both examples it relates to the present because we know that right now it has already progressed or continued for six hours. The following examples show how it is used.

• We have been driving all day, but we are not at our destination yet.
• She has been living in that house for only a year.
• I have been reading for an hour straight.
• They have been waiting for the bus for what seems like forever.

The past perfect progressive says that a continuous action started in the past and was completed before another event in the past, as in "He had been working on the project for six hours before stopping to take a break." The following examples show how it is used.

• We had been driving on a small dirt road when a rock flew up and hit our windshield.
• They had been cooking for only an hour before their guests arrived.
• She had been jogging along the side of the road when she first started running but then decided to use the bike trail.

The future perfect progressive tells us that a continuous action will be completed at, or relates to, a time in the future, as in "By the end of the day he will have been working on the project for six hours." The continuous action may have started at any time in the past, present, or future, but it always ends on or relates to a point in the future. The following examples show how it is used.

• Next year, we will have been working together for 15 years.
• When my guests finally arrive I will have been preparing for the party for 8 hours.
• If we get to the theater at 1:00, then by the time the movie actually starts we will have been sitting in our seats for 30 minutes.

In all perfect progressive tenses an event or action continues for a time, then stops at a later time, or relates to a later time.

I hope this helps.