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## Using the perfect progressive tenses 

A continuous action is indicated by the use of the perfect progressive tenses. In this case the past participle of the verb ‘to be’ follows the verb ‘to have’ which in turn is followed by the present participle of the required verb. The finite verb then consists of three words. 

## Making mistakes 

## Present perfect progressive 

That dog has been barking all night. 

She has been crying all day. 

## Past perfect progressive 

He had been playing football 

She had been working on the computer. 

The present and past participles are often confused. The present participle is always used with the verb ‘to be’. The past participle is used with the verb ‘to have’. The following sentences are wrong: 

I was sat in the front row. 

He was stood behind me. 

The first suggests that someone picked you up and placed 

