Practice
Present perfect continuous: forms and examples
Your clothes are wet and the sky is clear. You can explain the evidence by saying, "It has been raining." The rain began before now, and its result is still easy to see.
Form the present perfect continuous and use it for an activity that began in the past and continues now, or for a recent activity with a present result.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
She has been studying since noon. /ʃi hæz bɪn ˈstʌdiɪŋ sɪns nuːn/
The short answer
Use have or has been plus an -ing verb when an activity started before now and is still continuing, or when a recent activity explains a result you can notice now. Use since for a starting point and for for a length of time.
I have been practicing my presentation for two hours.
Why it works: The practice began two hours ago and continues at the present time.
5 more examples
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Luis has been learning Korean since January.
The learning began in January and continues now.
Not this:Luis
has learnedten new Korean words this week. What changes: The present perfect simple counts a completed result, ten words, rather than describing the activity over time. -
We have been looking for a larger apartment for months.
For months gives the duration of the search, which is still in progress.
Not this:We
have founda larger apartment. What changes: Have found reports the completed result of the search. -
The children have been building a model bridge all afternoon.
All afternoon shows an activity that started earlier and reaches the present.
Not this:The children
have builta model bridge. What changes: Have built emphasizes that the bridge is complete. -
Why has Priya been using the meeting room?
Has comes before the subject Priya because this is a question.
Not this:Priya
has usedthe meeting room twice this month. What changes: Twice gives a number of completed occasions, so the simple form is natural. -
My eyes are tired because I have been reading on a small screen.
The recent reading activity explains the present result, tired eyes.
Not this:I
have readthe instructions. What changes: Have read says that the reading is complete and focuses on that result.
Read the full guide
First, look for an activity with a connection to now. If the sentence asks about duration, a continuing activity, or a present result, the present perfect continuous may fit. Choose have with I, you, we, and they. Choose has with he, she, it, and a singular noun.
Build the form with have or has been
The present perfect continuous has three parts: have or has, been, and an -ing verb. Use have with I, you, we, and they. Use has with he, she, it, and a singular noun. Every part matters in the finished verb phrase.
Our neighbors have been painting their fence.
Have agrees with the plural subject neighbors, and been painting names the continuing activity.
Which auxiliary goes with my colleague?
Use has: My colleague has been preparing the report.
Show an activity that continues now
Use this tense when an activity started in the past and still continues at the present time. The sentence often includes a duration or a starting point. It answers a question such as How long has this been happening?
I have been taking a pottery class since April.
Since April gives the beginning of the continuing activity.
Did the class begin before now and continue now?
If it did, have been taking is a useful form.
Use since and for accurately
Since names the point when an activity began. For names the length of the activity. Compare since last summer with for nine months. Both expressions can appear with the present perfect continuous when the activity reaches the present.
The café has been serving breakfast since 7 a.m.
Since 7 a.m. is a starting point, not a length of time.
Which word introduces a duration of six weeks?
Use for: She has been training for six weeks.
Explain a present result from a recent activity
The activity does not always need to be continuing at this exact second. The present perfect continuous can explain evidence that is present now. The activity happened recently enough for its result to matter in the conversation.
The floor is wet because someone has been washing it.
The wet floor is the present evidence of the recent washing activity.
Can you see a result of the recent activity now?
The present perfect continuous can explain that result.
Choose between the continuous and simple forms
Choose the continuous form when the activity or its duration is the main idea. Choose the present perfect simple when the completed result, amount, or number is the main idea. The two forms can be close in meaning, but they direct attention differently.
I have been writing emails all morning.
This sentence focuses on the ongoing activity. I have written twelve emails focuses on the completed number.
Do you need to emphasize the activity or a finished number?
Use that meaning to choose between have been writing and have written.
Make questions, negatives, and sensible verb choices
Put have or has before the subject to make a question: Have you been sleeping well? Put not after have or has to make a negative: She has not been feeling well. Many state verbs, such as know, believe, and own, usually do not use a continuous form, so choose the present perfect simple with those verbs.
How long have you been working on the application?
Have moves before you in the question, but been working stays together after the subject.
Which sentence is normal for a continuing state of knowing someone?
Say I have known my neighbor for years. Know is usually not continuous in this meaning.
Before you go
Remember this
Use have or has been plus an -ing verb for an activity that began before now and continues, or for a recent activity with a present result. Since introduces the start, and for introduces the duration. When the sentence counts a finished result, the present perfect simple may be the better choice.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Present perfect continuous: forms and examples"
How do I form the present perfect continuous?
Use have or has, then been, then the -ing form of the main verb. Use have with I, you, we, and they. Use has with he, she, it, or a singular noun. For example, Luis has been learning Korean since January.
Luis has been learning Korean since January.
When should I use the present perfect continuous?
Use it when an activity began before now and still continues, or when a recent activity explains a present result. We have been looking for a larger apartment for months shows a continuing search. My eyes are tired because I have been reading on a small screen explains a result now.
Luis has learned ten new Korean words this week.
What is the difference between since and for?
Use since for the point where an activity began and for for the length of time. Luis has been learning Korean since January gives a starting point. We have been looking for a larger apartment for months gives a duration.
We have been looking for a larger apartment for months.
When do I use present perfect simple instead?
Use the present perfect simple when the completed result, amount, or number matters more than the ongoing activity. Luis has learned ten new Korean words this week counts a result. The children have built a model bridge focuses on a completed object.
We have found a larger apartment.
Can I use state verbs in the present perfect continuous?
Usually, no. State verbs such as know, own, and believe normally do not use a continuous form in these meanings. Say I have known her for years rather than I have been knowing her for years. Use the continuous form with actions such as learning, looking, building, and reading.
The children have been building a model bridge all afternoon.