B2 Compound Tenses 15 min read Medium

Present Perfect: Have Been Doing (Pretérito Perfeito Composto)

The Portuguese Present Perfect is used exclusively for actions that started recently and continue happening repeatedly today.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use this tense to describe an action that started in the past and continues repeating up to the present moment.

  • Use 'ter' (conjugated) + 'estado' + 'gerúndio' (verb-ndo) for ongoing actions.
  • It implies a series of repeated events, not just one single long action.
  • Commonly used with time markers like 'ultimamente' or 'nos últimos dias'.
Subject + Ter (present) + estado + Verb(-ndo/a-infinitivo)

Overview

When delving into Portuguese grammar, you will encounter the Pretérito Perfeito Composto, a tense that frequently causes confusion for English speakers. Unlike its English counterpart, the Present Perfect (e.g., "I have eaten"), the Portuguese Pretérito Perfeito Composto does not typically describe a single, completed action with present relevance. Instead, its primary function is to articulate actions that began in the recent past and have continued or been repeated habitually up to the present moment, often implying an ongoing state or process.

Think of it as the Portuguese equivalent of "I have been doing" or "I've been seeing." This distinction is crucial; mistranslating directly from English will lead to unnatural-sounding Portuguese, as it functions as a prominent "false friend" in linguistic terms. Mastering this tense allows you to naturally express recent habits, continuous states, or recurrent activities that define your current period of life, creating a vital link between your recent past and your present reality.

Its underlying linguistic principle is to provide an explicit temporal frame that highlights the duration or repetition of an action, anchoring it firmly in the present as something still active or relevant. It describes your "current era" or what you "have been up to lately," reflecting a dynamic continuity rather than a static completion. This tense is essential for conveying fluidity in personal narratives and daily communication, enabling you to share life updates and discuss ongoing trends with native fluency.

When an action is truly finished and has no further continuous or repetitive implication in the present, other past tenses are universally preferred.

How This Grammar Works

The Pretérito Perfeito Composto, formally known as the Compound Present Perfect, is constructed using an auxiliary verb and a main verb in its past participle form. This structure creates a nuanced meaning distinct from other past or continuous tenses. The auxiliary verb, ter (to have), is always conjugated in the present tense, acting as the temporal anchor that connects the entire action to the present moment.
Its conjugation clearly indicates the subject performing the action.
Following ter is the past participle of the main verb, which conveys the core action. Critically, this participle remains invariant; it does not change its form to agree with the subject's gender or number, always ending in -o. Together, ter (in the present tense) and the past participle signify an action that started at some point in the recent past and has persisted or reoccurred until now.
The emphasis lies on the ongoing nature, habituality, or repetition of the activity within a recent timeframe, rather than a single, completed instance. For example, Tenho lido muitos livros (I have been reading many books) suggests a recent habit of reading that continues, whereas Li muitos livros (I read many books or I have read many books) refers to a completed quantity of books at a specific or implied past time.
This grammatical construction allows for a concise expression of an extended period of activity. It is not about an action happening at the exact moment of speaking (for that, you would use a present continuous tense like estar a ler or estar lendo), but rather about a recent timeframe during which the action has been consistently occurring or repeating. The phrase Tenho viajado (I have been traveling) implies a pattern of travel over a period, not necessarily that you are traveling at this second.
This temporal scope and focus on continuity are what define the Pretérito Perfeito Composto and distinguish it within the Portuguese tense system.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming the Pretérito Perfeito Composto is straightforward and follows a consistent two-part structure. You combine the present tense conjugation of the auxiliary verb ter with the invariant past participle of the main verb. The process is as follows:
2
Conjugate ter in the Present Tense: This auxiliary verb sets the temporal context, linking the action to the present.
3
| Subject Pronoun | Present Tense of ter |
4
| :-------------- | :--------------------- |
5
| Eu | tenho |
6
| Tu | tens |
7
| Você/Ele/Ela | tem |
8
| Nós | temos |
9
| Vocês/Eles/Elas | têm |
10
Note: In Brazilian Portuguese, você tem is widely used even in informal contexts, while in European Portuguese, tu tens is common in informal speech.
11
Form the Past Participle of the Main Verb: This form describes the action itself. Regular past participles follow clear patterns:
12
For verbs ending in -ar, remove -ar and add -ado. (e.g., falar -> falado)
13
For verbs ending in -er, remove -er and add -ido. (e.g., comer -> comido)
14
For verbs ending in -ir, remove -ir and add -ido. (e.g., partir -> partido)
15
Combine them: The conjugated ter is always followed immediately by the past participle.
16
Eu tenho falado (I have been speaking)
17
Ela tem comido (She has been eating)
18
Nós temos partido (We have been leaving/departing)
19
Irregular Past Participles: A number of verbs have irregular past participles that must be memorized. These forms do not follow the -ado/-ido pattern but are fixed and do not change for gender or number when used with ter.
20
abrir -> aberto
21
dizer -> dito
22
escrever -> escrito
23
fazer -> feito
24
ganhar -> ganho (often ganhado is also accepted, especially in BP)
25
pagar -> pago (often pagado is also accepted, especially in BP)
26
pôr -> posto
27
ver -> visto
28
vir -> vindo
29
Example with an irregular participle:
30
Eles têm feito muito barulho. (They have been making a lot of noise.)
31
Remember, the past participle in this construction never agrees with the subject in gender or number; it always maintains its base form, typically ending in -o for regular participles. This immutability simplifies usage considerably.

When To Use It

The Pretérito Perfeito Composto is employed in Portuguese to convey specific temporal nuances that revolve around continuity, habituality, and repetition originating in the recent past and extending to the present. Its usage is precise:
  1. 1To Express Actions or States That Began in the Recent Past and Continue Up to the Present: This is the most common and defining use. The action is not finished; it is ongoing or has very recently concluded but still has relevance or a perceptible effect now.
  • Tenho estudado português ultimamente. (I have been studying Portuguese lately.) – Implies you started studying recently and are still doing it.
  • Ele tem morado em Lisboa desde 2020. (He has been living in Lisbon since 2020.) – Describes a continuous state of living.
  • Nós temos esperado por esta oportunidade há muito tempo. (We have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.) – Emphasizes the duration of the wait.
  1. 1To Describe Repeated Actions or Habits Within a Recent Timeframe: The focus here is on the recurrence of an event rather than its continuous duration. The action has happened multiple times.
  • Tenho ido ao ginásio três vezes por semana. (I have been going to the gym three times a week.) – Highlights a repeated action, a recent habit.
  • Ela tem visitado os pais todos os domingos. (She has been visiting her parents every Sunday.) – Indicates a regular, repeated activity.
  • Vocês têm assistido a muitos filmes este mês. (You all have been watching many films this month.) – Refers to multiple instances of watching films.
  1. 1For General Updates on One's Life or Recent Trends: This tense is invaluable for sharing what you "have been doing" or what "has been happening" in your life or surroundings recently.
  • Como tens passado? Tenho trabalhado muito. (How have you been? I have been working a lot.) – A common conversational opener and update.
  • O tempo tem estado muito estranho nestes dias. (The weather has been very strange these days.) – A general observation about a recent trend.
Crucially, if an action was a single, completed event in the past, even if recent, the Pretérito Perfeito Simples (simple past) or Pretérito Mais-que-Perfeito Simples (pluperfect) would be appropriate, not the Pretérito Perfeito Composto. This tense inherently carries a sense of prolonged or habitual engagement. Contextual adverbs such as ultimamente (lately), recentemente (recently), nestes dias (these days), nos últimos tempos (in recent times), sempre (always), or desde (since) often accompany this tense, though its meaning can be strong enough to imply these without explicit mention.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter difficulties with the Pretérito Perfeito Composto due to direct translation interference from English or a misunderstanding of its specific function. Avoiding these common pitfalls will significantly improve your fluency and accuracy.
  1. 1Direct Translation from English Present Perfect ("Have Done"): This is the most pervasive error. The English "I have seen that movie" refers to a completed action in your experience. In Portuguese, this should almost always be the Pretérito Perfeito Simples.
  • Incorrect: Eu tenho visto aquele filme. (Unless you mean, "I have been watching that movie repeatedly/lately.")
  • Correct: Eu vi aquele filme. (I saw/have seen that movie.)
Similarly, for single, completed events, even recent ones:
  • Incorrect: Ontem eu tenho comprado um carro novo. (Yesterday I have been buying a new car.) – This implies a continuous buying process over a recent period, which is illogical.
  • Correct: Ontem eu comprei um carro novo. (Yesterday I bought a new car.)
  1. 1Participle Agreement: In Portuguese, when ter is used as an auxiliary verb in compound tenses, the past participle never agrees in gender or number with the subject or object. It remains in its invariant masculine singular form, typically ending in -o.
  • Incorrect: Ela tem escritA muitas cartas. (She has been writing many letters.) – The participle escrita (feminine singular) is incorrect.
  • Correct: Ela tem escritO muitas cartas. (The participle escrito remains invariant.)
This differs from other compound tenses, particularly those formed with ser or estar, where participles do agree. Here, it is always fixed.
  1. 1Adverb Placement: Adverbs in Portuguese generally follow the verb phrase. Placing an adverb between ter and the past participle is ungrammatical and sounds awkward to native speakers.
  • Incorrect: Eu tenho sempre estudado. (I have always been studying.)
  • Correct: Eu tenho estudado sempre. (I have always been studying.)
  • Incorrect: Nós temos frequentemente viajado.
  • Correct: Nós temos viajado frequentemente.
  1. 1Using haver instead of ter: While haver can also mean "to have," its use as an auxiliary verb for compound tenses like the Pretérito Perfeito Composto is archaic or highly formal in modern Portuguese. Stick exclusively to ter for contemporary communication.
  • Incorrect: Eu hei falado.
  • Correct: Eu tenho falado.
By internalizing these distinctions and practicing correct usage, you will avoid common pitfalls and speak Portuguese with greater precision.

Real Conversations

The Pretérito Perfeito Composto is a cornerstone of natural Portuguese conversation, especially when discussing ongoing events, habits, or recent life updates. It allows for a dynamic and personally relevant narrative. Here are examples of its use in authentic contexts:

1. Giving Life Updates / Catching Up: This tense is perfect for answering the common question, "Como tens passado?" (How have you been?).

- European Portuguese:

- Como tens passado? (How have you been?)

- Tenho trabalhado muito, mas também tenho tentado relaxar. (I've been working a lot, but I've also been trying to relax.)

- E tu, o que tens feito? (And you, what have you been up to?)

- Brazilian Portuguese:

- Como você tem passado?

- Tenho trabalhado muito, mas também tenho tentado relaxar.

- E você, o que tem feito?

Notice how the tense immediately frames the response as describing recent, ongoing activity, not a single past event.

2. Describing Recent Habits or Repeated Actions: When explaining what you consistently do or what's been happening around you repeatedly.

- Ultimamente, tenho lido muitos artigos sobre sustentabilidade. (Lately, I've been reading many articles about sustainability.) – Expresses a current habit of reading.

- As crianças têm brincado no jardim todas as tardes. (The children have been playing in the garden every afternoon.) – Highlights a repeated action.

- Tenho visto umas séries ótimas na Netflix. (I've been watching some great series on Netflix.) – Implies multiple recent viewings.

3. Explaining Current States or Effects: Sometimes, the Pretérito Perfeito Composto explains the background to a present situation.

- Tenho dormido mal, por isso estou cansado. (I've been sleeping badly, that's why I'm tired.) – The ongoing poor sleep explains the current tiredness.

- Aquele projeto tem dado muito trabalho. (That project has been giving a lot of work.) – Explains the effort involved in an ongoing project.

4. Cultural Insight (Brazil vs. Portugal): While the core meaning remains identical, some subtle differences in frequency of use exist. In casual Brazilian Portuguese, the Pretérito Perfeito Composto can sometimes be employed more broadly for actions that are very recently completed but still have a strong connection to the present, bordering on what in European Portuguese might strictly use the simple past or acabar de + infinitive. However, its primary function of ongoing/repeated action is universal in both variants. For instance, a Brazilian might say Tenho falado com ele hoje (I have been speaking with him today) for a single recent conversation, where a European Portuguese speaker might prefer Falei com ele hoje (I spoke with him today). This is a nuance rather than a rule divergence and highlights the importance of context and regional exposure.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the Pretérito Perfeito Composto, clarifying common points of confusion for learners:
  • Q: Can I use haver instead of ter for this tense?
  • A: No, not in modern, everyday Portuguese. While historically haver was used as an auxiliary verb, contemporary Portuguese (both European and Brazilian) exclusively uses ter for the Pretérito Perfeito Composto and other compound tenses. Using haver would sound extremely archaic or overly formal.
  • Q: Does the past participle ever agree with the subject's gender or number?
  • A: Absolutely not. When ter is the auxiliary verb for the Pretérito Perfeito Composto, the past participle is always invariant. It remains in its basic masculine singular form, typically ending in -o (e.g., falado, comido, escrito). This is a firm rule and a key differentiator from participles used with ser or estar, which do agree.
  • Q: Do I always need to include adverbs like ultimamente (lately) or recentemente (recently)?
  • A: Not necessarily. While these adverbs often accompany the Pretérito Perfeito Composto to reinforce its meaning, the tense itself inherently carries the nuance of "recent, ongoing, or repeated action." The grammatical structure alone implies this temporal scope. Use them for added emphasis or clarity, but do not feel compelled to include them if the meaning is already clear from context.
  • Q: Can this tense be used with the verb ser (to be)?
  • A: It is grammatically possible, resulting in ter sido (e.g., Eu tenho sido mais paciente ultimamente – I have been more patient lately). However, this construction is less common than with action verbs. Often, simple present tense (Sou mais paciente) or a continuous construction (Estou a ser mais paciente [EP] / Estou sendo mais paciente [BP]) might be preferred depending on the exact nuance. Ter sido specifically emphasizes a state that has persisted or repeated over a recent period.
  • Q: Is the usage of this tense the same in Portugal and Brazil?
  • A: Yes, the core grammatical structure and the fundamental meaning of "recent, ongoing, or repeated action" are identical in both European and Brazilian Portuguese. The differences are generally subtle and pertain more to regional preferences in the frequency of its use for certain very recently completed actions, as noted in the "Real Conversations" section. Learners should apply the same rules for formation and primary usage in both variants.
  • Q: What if I want to say "I have never done that"? Should I use this tense?
  • A: No. For expressions involving "never" (e.g., nunca), indicating an action that has never occurred as a single, completed event, you should use the Pretérito Perfeito Simples (simple past). For example, Eu nunca fiz isso. (I have never done that.) Using the Pretérito Perfeito Composto here (Eu nunca tenho feito isso) would imply an ongoing or repeated non-action, which is generally illogical. The simple past expresses the definitive lack of a completed action in your life experience.
  • Q: Does the Pretérito Perfeito Composto imply activity at this exact moment?
  • A: Not necessarily. While it denotes an action or habit that extends up to the present, it does not mean the action is actively occurring at the very second you are speaking. For an action happening right now, you would use estar + gerund (BP) or estar a + infinitive (EP) (e.g., Estou a ler / Estou lendo). The Pretérito Perfeito Composto describes an ongoing period of activity or a recent pattern.
  • Q: How does it differ from acabar de + infinitive?
  • A: Acabar de + infinitive means "to have just done something" (e.g., Acabei de comer – I just ate). This structure refers to an action completed very recently. The Pretérito Perfeito Composto, in contrast, focuses on actions that are either still ongoing, habitual, or have been repeatedly happening up to the present, not a single, immediate past completion.

Conjugation of 'Ter' + 'Estado' + Verb

Subject Auxiliary (Ter) Participle Main Verb
Eu
tenho
estado
a trabalhar
Tu
tens
estado
a trabalhar
Ele/Ela
tem
estado
a trabalhar
Nós
temos
estado
a trabalhar
Eles/Elas
têm
estado
a trabalhar

Meanings

This tense expresses an action that began in the past and has been recurring or continuing up to the present.

1

Repeated Action

Actions that happen multiple times over a period.

“Tenho estado a ir ao ginásio.”

“Tenho estado a ligar-te.”

2

Ongoing State

A state that persists from the past until now.

“Tenho estado cansado ultimamente.”

“Tenho estado preocupado com o projeto.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Present Perfect: Have Been Doing (Pretérito Perfeito Composto)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Ter + estado + a + Inf
Tenho estado a ler.
Negative
Não + Ter + estado + a + Inf
Não tenho estado a ler.
Question
Ter + sujeito + estado + a + Inf
Tens estado a ler?
Short Answer
Sim/Não + Ter
Sim, tenho.
Brazilian Var
Ter + estado + Gerúndio
Tenho estado lendo.
State
Ter + estado + Adj
Tenho estado cansado.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Tenho estado a trabalhar intensamente nos últimos tempos.

Tenho estado a trabalhar intensamente nos últimos tempos. (Work/General)

Neutral
Tenho estado a trabalhar muito ultimamente.

Tenho estado a trabalhar muito ultimamente. (Work/General)

Informal
Tenho trabalhado bué ultimamente.

Tenho trabalhado bué ultimamente. (Work/General)

Slang
Tô trabalhando pra caramba.

Tô trabalhando pra caramba. (Work/General)

The Timeline of 'Have Been Doing'

Present Moment

Past

  • Start Action begins

Duration

  • Repetition Repeated actions

Result

  • Current State Still happening
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Examples by Level

1

Eu tenho estado a estudar.

I have been studying.

2

Tenho estado a comer bem.

I have been eating well.

3

Tenho estado a dormir.

I have been sleeping.

4

Tenho estado a correr.

I have been running.

1

Tenho estado a trabalhar muito.

I have been working a lot.

2

Não tenho estado a sair.

I haven't been going out.

3

Tens estado a ver filmes?

Have you been watching movies?

4

Tenho estado a aprender português.

I have been learning Portuguese.

1

Tenho estado a pensar na proposta.

I have been thinking about the proposal.

2

Ultimamente, tenho estado a sentir-me melhor.

Lately, I have been feeling better.

3

Eles têm estado a viajar bastante.

They have been traveling quite a bit.

4

Tenho estado a organizar a casa.

I have been organizing the house.

1

Tenho estado a analisar os dados do projeto.

I have been analyzing the project data.

2

A equipa tem estado a colaborar intensamente.

The team has been collaborating intensely.

3

Tenho estado a ponderar mudar de carreira.

I have been considering changing careers.

4

Tenho estado a acompanhar as notícias.

I have been following the news.

1

Tenho estado a desenvolver uma nova metodologia.

I have been developing a new methodology.

2

O mercado tem estado a flutuar significativamente.

The market has been fluctuating significantly.

3

Tenho estado a reavaliar as minhas prioridades.

I have been reevaluating my priorities.

4

Têm estado a surgir novas oportunidades.

New opportunities have been emerging.

1

Tenho estado a perscrutar as nuances do texto.

I have been scrutinizing the nuances of the text.

2

A sociedade tem estado a transitar para um modelo digital.

Society has been transitioning to a digital model.

3

Tenho estado a arquitetar uma solução complexa.

I have been architecting a complex solution.

4

Têm estado a proliferar discursos contraditórios.

Contradictory discourses have been proliferating.

Easily Confused

Present Perfect: Have Been Doing (Pretérito Perfeito Composto) vs Pretérito Perfeito Simples

Learners use simple past for ongoing habits.

Present Perfect: Have Been Doing (Pretérito Perfeito Composto) vs Presente do Indicativo

Learners use simple present for duration.

Present Perfect: Have Been Doing (Pretérito Perfeito Composto) vs Pretérito Imperfeito

Learners use imperfect for recent habits.

Common Mistakes

✗

Tenho trabalhando

✓

Tenho estado a trabalhar

Missing the auxiliary 'estado'.
✗

Trabalhei muito

✓

Tenho estado a trabalhar muito

Using simple past for ongoing habits.
✗

Tenho estado trabalhando

✓

Tenho estado a trabalhar

Mixing PT-BR and PT-EU structures.
✗

Estou trabalhando

✓

Tenho estado a trabalhar

Using present continuous for long-term habits.
✗

Tenho estado a comido

✓

Tenho estado a comer

Using past participle instead of infinitive.
✗

Não tenho estado a não trabalhar

✓

Não tenho estado a trabalhar

Double negative confusion.
✗

Tens estado a lido?

✓

Tens estado a ler?

Incorrect verb form.
✗

Tenho estado a ter estudado

✓

Tenho estado a estudar

Over-complicating the tense.
✗

Ultimamente, trabalho muito

✓

Ultimamente, tenho estado a trabalhar muito

Missing the aspectual nuance.
✗

Tenho estado a ser cansado

✓

Tenho estado cansado

Using 'ser' with adjectives of state.
✗

Tenho estado a ter sido

✓

Tenho estado a ser

Incorrect auxiliary usage.
✗

Têm estado a surgir problemas

✓

Têm estado a surgir problemas

Agreement error.
✗

Tenho estado a ter feito

✓

Tenho estado a fazer

Redundant perfective aspect.

Sentence Patterns

Tenho estado a ___ ultimamente.

Tens estado a ___?

O meu projeto tem estado a ___.

Tenho estado ___ ultimamente.

Real World Usage

Job Interview common

Tenho estado a gerir projetos complexos.

Texting very common

Tenho estado a ver a série que recomendaste.

Health Check common

Tenho estado a sentir dores nas costas.

Social Media common

Tenho estado a aproveitar as férias!

Travel occasional

Tenho estado a visitar museus.

Food Delivery App occasional

Tenho estado a pedir comida fora.

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💡

Use Adverbs

Pair this tense with 'ultimamente' to sound more natural.
⚠️

Don't skip 'estado'

It is the core of the tense.
🎯

PT-EU vs PT-BR

Remember: 'a + infinitive' (EU) vs 'gerund' (BR).
💬

Be specific

Use this to show you are active, not just passive.

Smart Tips

Use 'ultimamente' to trigger the tense.

Trabalho muito. → Tenho estado a trabalhar muito ultimamente.

Use 'estado' with adjectives.

Estou cansado. → Tenho estado cansado.

Use the question form.

O que fazes? → O que tens estado a fazer?

Check if the action is finished.

Estudei muito esta semana. → Tenho estado a estudar muito esta semana.

Pronunciation

ten-yoo-es-ta-doo

Linking

Link 'tenho' and 'estado' for flow.

Statement

Tenho estado a trabalhar ↘

Neutral information.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Bridge of Time': 'Ter' is the start, 'Estado' is the middle, and the main verb is the ongoing action.

Visual Association

Imagine a person running on a treadmill. The treadmill represents the 'estado' (the state of being), and the running is the action.

Rhyme

Tenho estado a fazer, é o que acabei de aprender.

Story

Maria started a new hobby. She bought a guitar. For weeks, she has been practicing. 'Tenho estado a praticar', she tells her friends. She is still playing today.

Word Web

TenhoEstadoTrabalharEstudarUltimamenteContinuamente

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about what you have been doing this week.

Cultural Notes

Uses 'a + infinitive' structure.

Uses 'gerund' structure.

Similar to Portugal but with distinct rhythm.

Derived from Latin 'habere' (to have) + 'stare' (to stand).

Conversation Starters

“

O que tens estado a fazer ultimamente?

“

Tens estado a ler algum livro?

“

Como tem estado o teu trabalho?

“

Tens estado a praticar português?

Journal Prompts

Write about your recent habits.
Describe a project you have been working on.
How has your health been lately?
What have you been doing to improve your skills?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ estado a trabalhar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tenho
Eu requires 'tenho'.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Tu ___ estado a estudar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tens
Tu requires 'tens'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu tenho trabalhando.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tenho estado a trabalhar
Needs 'estado'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

a / tenho / estado / trabalhar / eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tenho estado a trabalhar
Correct structure.
Conjugate 'ter'. Conjugation Drill

Nós ___ estado a ler.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: temos
Nós requires 'temos'.
Match the tense. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I have been reading
Correct translation.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Tenho estado a trabalhar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não tenho estado a trabalhar
Negative goes before 'ter'.
Select the best fit. Multiple Choice

Ultimamente, ___ a sentir-me cansado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tenho estado
Ultimamente triggers perfect continuous.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ estado a trabalhar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tenho
Eu requires 'tenho'.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

Tu ___ estado a estudar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tens
Tu requires 'tens'.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu tenho trabalhando.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tenho estado a trabalhar
Needs 'estado'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Building

a / tenho / estado / trabalhar / eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tenho estado a trabalhar
Correct structure.
Conjugate 'ter'. Conjugation Drill

Nós ___ estado a ler.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: temos
Nós requires 'temos'.
Match the tense. Match Pairs

Tenho estado a ler

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I have been reading
Correct translation.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

Tenho estado a trabalhar.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Não tenho estado a trabalhar
Negative goes before 'ter'.
Select the best fit. Multiple Choice

Ultimamente, ___ a sentir-me cansado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: tenho estado
Ultimamente triggers perfect continuous.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Choose the correct auxiliary verb. Fill in the Blank

Nós ____ estudado português todos os dias.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: temos
Choose the correct irregular participle. Fill in the Blank

Eles têm ____ a verdade ultimamente.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dito
Fix the tense usage mistake. Error Correction

Eu tenho visitado o Japão no ano passado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu visitei o Japão no ano passado.
Fix the auxiliary verb agreement. Error Correction

Tu tem dormido pouco.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu tens dormido pouco.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

muito / tenho / Eu / corrido

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tenho corrido muito
Form a natural question. Sentence Reorder

ultimamente / O que / feito / você / tem / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: O que você tem feito ultimamente?
Translate the sentence into Portuguese. Translation

We have been eating well.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nós temos comido bem.
Translate the sentence into Portuguese. Translation

She has been working a lot.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ela tem trabalhado muito.
Identify the sentence that describes an ONGOING recent habit. Multiple Choice

Which sentence implies you are STILL doing this lately?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tenho treinado todos os dias.
Identify the grammatically incorrect sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence incorrectly splits the verb phrase?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu tenho sempre falado com ela.
Find the correctly paired pronoun and auxiliary verb. Match Pairs

Which pair is grammatically correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eles - têm
Find the correctly paired verb and irregular participle. Match Pairs

Which verb forms its participle correctly?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ver - Visto

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

No, it is for repeated or ongoing actions.

Yes, they use the gerund instead of 'a + infinitive'.

It acts as the past participle of 'estar'.

No, 'ontem' is for finished past.

It is neutral and common in all registers.

Put 'não' before 'ter'.

Most, but stative verbs are less common.

No, only for past-to-present.

Scaffolded Practice

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

He estado + gerundio

Spanish uses gerund, PT-EU uses 'a + infinitive'.

French moderate

J'ai été en train de

French doesn't use the 'have been' structure as directly.

German low

Ich habe ... gemacht

German lacks a specific continuous perfect tense.

Japanese partial

～てきた

Japanese focuses on the approach to the present.

Arabic low

كنت أقوم بـ

Arabic lacks a direct perfect continuous equivalent.

Chinese moderate

一直在...

Chinese uses adverbs instead of verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Present Perfect (Repeated Actions)

Learn These First

B2 Requires

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