Usages and grammar explanations for the present perfect continuous tense.
The Present Perfect Continuous (also called Present Perfect Progressive) is used to describe actions that started in the past and are still continuing or have recently stopped but have a connection to the present.
Formula
Affirmative: Subject + have/has + been+ verb+ing
I/You/We/They | have + been + Ving |
He/She/It | has + been + Ving |
I have been studying for three hours. = I've been studying for three hours.
She has been working here since 2015. = She's been working here since 2015.
They have been waiting for 20 minutes. = They've been waiting for 20 minutes.
Negative: Subject + have/has + not + been+ verb+ing
I/You/We/They | have + not + been + Ving |
He/She/It | has + not + been + Ving |
I have not been studying for three hours. = I haven't been studying for three hours.
She has not been working here since 2015. = She hasn't been working here since 2015.
They have not been waiting for 20 minutes. = They haven't been waiting for 20 minutes.
Question: Have/Has + subject + past participle (V3)
Have | I/You/We/They + been + Ving |
Has | He/She/It + been + Ving |
Have you been studying for three hours?
Has she been working here since 2015?
Have they been waiting for 20 minutes?
Time Expressions
since, for, lately, recently, all day, all morning, all week, all month, over the past few days, over the last year, for a long time, for hours, for weeks, for months, for years, since yesterday, since last Monday, since 2010, since childhood, since morning, since noon, since then, up to now, so far.
Usages
To talk about single or repeated actions that started in the past and are still continuing.
He has been calling me all day.
I have been studying since morning.
They have been arguing a lot recently.
We have been waiting for you since noon.
She has been working here for five years.
How long have you been playing golf?
To talk about actions that have recently stopped but have present effects.
She has been crying, so her eyes are red.
I have been running, and now I’m out of breath.
He has been working hard, so he looks very tired.
They have been arguing, and now the room feels tense.
Your clothes are dirty! Have you been playing outside?