When do we use it?

When we wish to express an ongoing activity which began in the past, includes the present moment and is still going on we use the Present Perfect Continuous.

present perfect continuous

​past

​future

​present

​present perfect continuous

• She has been playing tennis for many years.

• He has been watching F1 since he was a kid.

• They haven´t been trying to do their chores.​

• I´ve been eating black bread for years.​

• Have you been watching the game?

• Has he been playing on your team?

• ​Have they been sleeping again?

Juan and Pablo have been studying English for 3 years.

​

They have been studying since 2019.​

have/has + been + gerund

​examples:

​

• Have you been watching the game? Yes, I have.

​

​

​

• How long have you been studying English?

  I´ve been studying English for two ye​ars.

​HAVE+ NOUN + BEEN + GERUND + COMPLEMENT ?

examples:

​

​present perfect simple

​vs.

present perfect continuous​

present perfect continuous

The present perfect continuous is generally used to reckon only the time from the beginning of the action up to the present moment of speaking, but does not necessarily complete the action. It permits the action to continue beyond the present moment into the future.​

present perfect vs. present perfect continuous

The present perfect continuous can show that an action is not completed, or it has finished recently.

• We have been walking for hours! Let´s rest.

• I´ve been doing my chores. That is why I´m tired.

​present perfect continuous

present perfect simple

We can use it when an action is complete, or a certain amount complete.

• I have finished my homework!

• I have written five pages of my homework!

present perfect vs. present perfect continuous

* present result or action in progress

We use present perfect continuous if our attention is on the action in progress.

• I´ve been doing my homework all day long! I didn´t know it would take so long.

​present perfect continuous

present perfect simple

We use the present perfect simple if our attention is on the present result.

• I´ve done all my homework. Now I can play videogames.​