Tenses · Upper-intermediate (B2)
Present perfect continuous
Focus on the duration of an activity up to now, or its visible effects: I’ve been waiting for an hour. You’ve been crying.
The rules
Form: have / has been + verb-ing: I’ve been studying. How long have you been living here?
Use: an activity that started in the past and is still going on, emphasising how long (She’s been working here for ten years), or a recent activity with present evidence (I’m tired — I’ve been running).
Simple vs continuous: the simple focuses on the result / quantity (I’ve written three emails); the continuous on the activity / duration (I’ve been writing emails all morning). State verbs stay simple: I’ve known her for years.
Examples
- It’s been raining all day.
- How long have you been learning English?
- Your eyes are red. Have you been crying?
- We’ve been trying to call you!
Common mistakes
✗ I’ve been knowing him since 2010.
✓ I’ve known him since 2010.
State verb → simple form.
✗ I’ve been reading four books this month.
✓ I’ve read four books this month.
A number of completed things → simple.
Practice
She’s tired because she ___ all day.
Quiz
1.Your hands are dirty. What ___?
2.Complete the sentence.
3.The present perfect continuous emphasises duration.
4.Put the words in the right order.