ESL Grammar: PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE (2) – Ever Since

This ESL grammar lesson teaches students to use the present perfect continuous tense with the phrase “ever since.”

ESL Grammar: Combining “Ever Since” with the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

When using “ever since” with the Present Perfect Continuous Tense, you create sentences that focus on the ongoing nature of an activity from a particular past time up to now. The structure typically looks like this:

Structure:

• Affirmative: Subject + has/have been + present participle (verb+ing) + ever since + specific point in the past
  • Example: She has been studying French ever since she moved to Paris.
• Negative: Subject + has/have not been + present participle (verb+ing) + ever since + specific point in the past
  • Example: They have not been working on the project ever since the deadline passed.
• Question: Has/Have + subject + been + present participle (verb+ing) + ever since + specific point in the past?
  • Example: Have you been feeling better ever since you started your new exercise routine?

ESL Grammar: When to Use “Ever Since” with the Present Perfect Continuous Tense

1. To Emphasize Duration: Use “ever since” to stress the length of time an action has been ongoing from a past point to now.
   • Example: I have been volunteering at the animal shelter ever since I retired.
2. To Highlight Changes or Continuity: Describe how something has changed or continued from a particular event or time.
   • Example: They have been more relaxed ever since they completed the big project.
3. To Show Connection: Illustrate how an action or situation is connected to a specific moment in the past.

The English grammar lesson below teaches students to use the present perfect continuous tense with the phrase “ever since.” Our series of ESL grammar lessons on subjects and verbs introduce these concepts and reinforce them through helpful and instructive exercises.

This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many more English grammar lessons focusing on advanced aspects of English grammar (past continuous tense, present perfect tense, present perfect continuous tense, passive voice, embedded questions, relative clauses) in our comprehensive, intermediate- to advanced-level ESL grammar textbook Great, Great Grammar! (Book 3: Tenses and More!).