The Present Perfect Continuous tense is used to talk about actions that started in the past and continue up to the present. The formula is 'have/has + been + verb-ing'. We use it to show how long something has been happening.
Tensi ya Present Perfect Continuous inatumika kuzungumzia vitendo ambavyo vilianza kwenye zamani na vinaendelea hadi sasa. Fomula ni 'have/has + been + verb-ing'. Tunaitumia kuonyesha muda gani kitendo kimekuwa kikiendelea.
Mifano & Matamshi
She has been singing in the church choir for ten years.
Yeye amekuwa akimwimba kwenye kwaya ya kanisa kwa miaka kumi.
showing duration
They have been waiting for the bus for an hour.
Wamekuwa wakitisubiri daladala kwa saa moja.
showing current action
I have been studying for my exams all day.
Nimekuwa nikisoma kwa ajili ya mtihani wangu kwa siku nzima.
showing ongoing action
has been studying
amekuwa akisoma
learning
have been working
wamekuwa wakifanya kazi
job
has been living
amekuwa akiishi
home
has been teaching
amekuwa akifundisha
education
have been playing
wamekuwa wakiicheza
leisure
has been writing
amekuwa akiandika
writing
has been reading
amekuwa akisoma
reading
has been watching
amekuwa akiona
TV
has been listening
amekuwa akisikiliza
music
has been helping
amekuwa akisaidia
assistance
has
ame
auxiliary verb
Zoezi: Tamka mifano hii
Soma Zaidi
Mfano (Example) 1
I have been learning English for three years. My sister has been studying at the University of Dar es Salaam for two years. They have been living in Arusha since 2010.
Nimekuwa nikisoma Kiingereza kwa miaka mitatu. Dada yangu amekuwa akiendelea na masomo yake katika Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam kwa miaka miwili. Wamekuwa wanaishi Arusha tangu 2010.
Maelezo (Detail)
In the sentence 'I have been learning English for three years', have been learning is the Present Perfect Continuous tense. It shows that the action of learning English started in the past and continues up to the present. Alternative sentences could be 'She has been teaching at the school for five years' or 'They have been building their house for six months'.
Katika sentensi 'Nimekuwa nikisoma Kiingereza kwa miaka mitatu', nimekuwa nikisoma ni Tensi ya Present Perfect Continuous. Inaonyesha kuwa kitendo cha kusoma Kiingereza kilianza kwenye zamani na kinaendelea hadi sasa. Sentensi nyingine zinazowezekana zinaweza kuwa 'Yeye amekuwa akifundisha shuleni kwa miaka mitano' au 'Wamekuwa wakijenga nyumba yao kwa miezi sita'.
Mfano (Example) 2
Hadija has been living in Dar es Salaam for five years.
Hadija amekuwa akiishi Dar es Salaam kwa miaka mitano.
Maelezo (Detail)
In the sentence Hadija has been living in Dar es Salaam, has been living is the present perfect continuous tense. It describes an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. Alternatives: has been working, has been studying.
Katika sentensi Hadija amekuwa akiishi Dar es Salaam, has been living ni wakati wa sasa uliopo. Inaelezea kitendo kilichoanza kwenye zamani na kinachoendelea hadi sasa. Mbadala: has been working, has been studying.
Mfano (Example) 3
Peter has been playing football since morning.
Peter amekuwa akicheza mpira wa miguu tangu asubuhi.
Maelezo (Detail)
In Peter has been playing football, has been playing is the present perfect continuous tense. It tells us that Peter started playing football in the past and is still playing. Alternatives: has been running, has been singing.
Katika Peter amekuwa akicheza mpira wa miguu, has been playing ni wakati wa sasa uliopo. Hutuambia kwamba Peter alianza kucheza mpira wa miguu kwenye zamani na bado anacheza. Mbadala: has been running, has been singing.
Mfano (Example) 4
Ruta has been teaching at Mtwara school for ten years.
Ruta amekuwa akifundisha shuleni Mtwara kwa miaka kumi.
Maelezo (Detail)
In the sentence Ruta has been teaching, has been teaching is the present perfect continuous tense. It describes an action that started in the past and continues up to the present. Alternatives: has been writing, has been dancing.
Katika sentensi Ruta amekuwa akifundisha, has been teaching ni wakati wa sasa uliopo. Inaelezea kitendo kilichoanza kwenye zamani na kinachoendelea hadi sasa. Mbadala: has been writing, has been dancing.
Mfano (Example) 5
Ethan has been studying Kiswahili for three months.
Ethan amekuwa akisoma Kiswahili kwa miezi mitatu.
Maelezo (Detail)
In Ethan has been studying, has been studying is the present perfect continuous tense. It tells us that Ethan started studying Kiswahili in the past and is still studying. Alternatives: has been reading, has been listening.
Katika Ethan amekuwa akisoma, has been studying ni wakati wa sasa uliopo. Hutuambia kwamba Ethan alianza kusoma Kiswahili kwenye zamani na bado anasoma. Mbadala: has been reading, has been listening.
Maswali
1
Identify the verb in the Present Perfect Continuous tense in the sentence below: ( Bainisha kiti cha kivyo cha Tensi ya Present Perfect Continuous katika sentensi ifuatayo:)
My brother has been playing football since morning.
Kaka yangu amekuwa akiicheza mpira wa miguu tangu asubuhi.
has been playing
2
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets: 'I __________ (learn) English since January.'
Kwa kuwa kitendo kilianza kwenye zamani na kinaendelea hadi sasa.
3
Choose the correct sentence that uses the Present Perfect Continuous tense:
Kwa kuwa sentensi hiyo inaonyesha kitendo kilichoanza kwenye zamani na kinaendelea hadi sasa.
4
Find the error in the sentence: 'I has been studying for my exams all day.'
Kwa kuwa 'I' ni jambo la mtu mmoja, na 'have' ndio sahihi katika hali hii.
5
Choose the correct form: Ivan ___ studying English.
Ivan amekuwa akisoma Kiingereza.
6
Complete the sentence: Hadija ___ living in Musoma.
Hadija amekuwa akiishi Musoma.
7
Change to the Present Perfect Continuous: Ivan is studying English.
Ivan amekuwa akisoma Kiingereza.
8
Identify the verb in the Present Perfect Continuous tense: Peter has been playing football.
Peter amekuwa akicheza mpira wa miguu.
9
Which of the following sentences are in the Present Perfect Continuous tense? (chagua majibu yote sahihi)
Ivan amekuwa akisoma, Hadija amekuwa akiishi.
10
Correct the sentence: Ivan is studying English since morning.
Ivan amekuwa akisoma Kiingereza tangu asubuhi.
11
Classify the following verbs as either Present Simple or Present Perfect Continuous: has been studying, studies
Ame kuwa akisoma ni wakati wa sasa uliopitiliza, anasoma ni wakati wa sasa rahisi.
Zungumza
Sema: Say 'I have been learning English for a few months' aloud.