The Present Perfect Continuous describes actions that began in the past and are still continuing now or have recently stopped, with a focus on duration or activity.
Structure: Subject + have/has been + verb(-ing)
Examples:
- I have been working all morning.
- She has been reading that book for hours.
- They have been studying English since last year.
When Do We Use the Present Perfect Continuous?
1️⃣ To talk about actions that started in the past and are still continuing:
- I have been learning Spanish for six months.
- He has been living in New York since 2020.
Focus is on how long the action has been happening.
2️⃣ To describe recent actions that have effects on the present:
- She has been crying. (Her eyes are red now.)
- They have been working all day. (They’re tired now.)
The result or effect of the action is still visible.
3️⃣ To emphasize repetition or duration of an action:
- He has been calling you all morning!
- I have been thinking about your offer.
Common Time Expressions:
- For / Since
- All day / All week / Recently / Lately
- How long…?
Examples:
- How long have you been waiting?
- I have been feeling tired lately.
Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Perfect Continuous
| Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|---|
| I have written two emails. | I have been writing emails all morning. |
| She has read five books this month. | She has been reading for two hours. |
✅ Use Present Perfect Simple to focus on results or how many.
✅ Use Present Perfect Continuous to focus on activity and duration.
