Question

Fill in the blank with an appropriate tense form of the verb given in the bracket:
I started Spanish classes in December. I’m still learning Spanish. I________ (learn-Spanish) since December.

a) Have learned Spanish
b) Has been learning Spanish
c) Have been learning Spanish
d) Am learning Spanish

Answer 1

Hint: The sentence indicates that the action is being carried forward from the past to the present and is still in the continuous process. We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about actions or events that began in the past and are still continuing in the present.

Complete answer:

Let’s look at the formation of present perfect continuous tense-
Structure- Has/have + been + ‘ing’ form of the verb
Example- She has been studying here for many years. Here, we can understand that ‘X’ began the action of studying in the past and is still continuing it.
In the given question- X started Spanish classes in December and X is still learning Spanish.
Now, let’s examine the given options-
Option a ‘Have learned Spanish’ indicates present perfect tense and shows something that has happened in the recent past. So, this option is not correct.

Option b ‘Has been learning’ follows the structure of the tense required but does not agree with the subject as the word ‘I’ should always be followed by ‘Have’ in the present perfect continuous tense.

Option c ‘Have been learning’ is the correct option. It shows that something started in the past and is still continuing at the present time exactly as in the given statement. So, this option is correct.

Option d ‘Am learning’ indicates something in the present which is in a continuous process. This is incorrect according to the given question.
So, the correct answer is “Option c”.

Note: The tense of the answer should satisfy the given statement and the meaning that it wants to present. Also, keep in mind to use ‘been’ with present perfect continuous tense.