In the present perfect continuous tense, negative sentences are formed by using the negative form of the auxiliary verb “have” (haven’t/hasn’t), followed by “been,” and then the present participle (base form + –ing) of the main verb.
Here’s how to construct present perfect continuous negative sentences:
Structure:
Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + been + Present participle of the main verb (base form + –ing) + Complements or additional information
Examples:
I haven’t been working on this project.
She hasn’t been studying for the exam.
We haven’t been living in this city for the last two years.
They haven’t been playing soccer.
The sun hasn’t been shining all day.
Table: Present perfect continuous – negative:
| Subject | Present perfect continuous negative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | I have not (haven’t) been + present participle | I haven’t been working on this project for very long. |
| You | You have not (haven’t) been + present participle | You haven’t been practicing the guitar recently. |
| He/She/It | He/She/It has not (hasn’t) been + present participle | She hasn’t been studying Spanish for a while. |
| We | We have not (haven’t) been + present participle | We haven’t been waiting here for hours. |
| You (plural) | You have not (haven’t) been + present participle | You haven’t been attending the classes regularly. |
| They | They have not (haven’t) been + present participle | They haven’t been renovating their house lately. |
Usage of present perfect continuous – negative:
Negating continuous actions:
Used to express that an ongoing action started in the past but has not continued up to the present.
Example:
I haven’t been practicing the guitar lately.
Denying the duration of an action:
Used to indicate that an action has not been happening for a specified duration.
Example:
They haven’t been traveling for weeks.
Stating the absence of temporary states:
Used to express that a temporary state or condition has not been ongoing.
Example:
She hasn’t been feeling stressed recently.
Highlighting the absence of repetitive actions:
Used to convey that repetitive or habitual actions have not been occurring.
Example:
We haven’t been attending the yoga classes regularly.
Understanding how to form and use present perfect continuous negative sentences allows you to express the absence of ongoing actions or states with a connection to the present in English. Practice constructing negative sentences in the present perfect continuous tense to enhance your language skills. Happy learning!
