Learn English – Can the present perfect continuous construct be used in passive voice

passive-voiceperfect-aspectpresent-progressive

Can the passive voice be used for sentences in the present perfect continuous?

I understand the present perfect and its passive voice (have/has built, has been built). However, the passive voice of present perfect continuous is unclear:

  • Active: They have been building this house for years.
  • Passive: ???

I have seen suggestions of “This house has been being built for years,” but it sounds awkward and I don't recall anywhere else where two be verbs follow one another. Is this the right form to use?

Best Answer

I think "has been being built" is grammatical, but few people would say it. I think most people would use the impersonal active form you gave.

An alternative in some dialects is "This house has been a-building for years", but that's not in any standard variety as far as I know.

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