B1daily

Present Perfect Continuous - Daily English

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Use the present perfect continuous to talk about an activity that started in the past and is still going on, or that has only just stopped and explains a present result. You form it with have/has + been + the -ing form of the verb: "I have been working" or "she has been waiting". It puts the focus on the activity and its duration rather than on a finished result. Reach for it when you want to stress how long something has been happening, often with "for" and "since": "I have been working here for three years"; "We have been waiting for the client since nine o'clock." It also explains a visible or current situation: "Sorry I'm late, I have been dealing with a supplier issue all morning." A common pitfall is using it with stative verbs such as know, believe, own or want, which describe states, not activities. Say "I have known her for years," not "I have been knowing her." Another trap is choosing it when you really mean a completed result with a number: use the present perfect simple for "I have sent five emails" (how many, finished), and the continuous for "I have been sending emails all afternoon" (the ongoing activity). When in doubt, ask whether you care about the activity and its duration, or about a completed outcome.

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  1. I (work) on this project since eight o'clock this morning.
  2. She (wait) for the bus for twenty minutes.
  3. They (play) video games all afternoon.
  4. It (rain) heavily since we arrived in London.
  5. We (plan) our summer vacation for several weeks now.
  6. He (learn) how to cook Italian food recently.
  7. You (exercise) a lot lately, look how fit you are!
  8. The kids (watch) cartoons since they woke up.
  9. My brother (study) for his final exams all week.
  10. Sarah (practice) the piano every day this month.
  11. We (look) for a new apartment for months.
  12. Tom (drive) for five hours without a break.
  13. The dog (bark) at the mailman all morning.
  14. I (read) this book since last night and I love it.
  15. They (talk) on the phone for over an hour.
  16. My parents (travel) around Europe for three weeks.
  17. She (try) to fix her computer all afternoon.
  18. We (save) money for a new car lately.
  19. The chef (prepare) the special dish for the guests.
  20. You (make) a lot of progress with your English recently.
  21. Mark (run) in the park every morning this summer.
  22. It (snow) in the mountains since yesterday.
  23. I (think) about moving to a different city.
  24. The neighbors (renovate) their house for months.
  25. She (cook) dinner for her friends since five o'clock.

Common questions

What is the difference between the present perfect continuous and the present perfect simple?

The continuous (have been doing) stresses an ongoing activity and its duration: "I have been preparing the report all day." The simple (have done) stresses a finished result, often with a quantity: "I have prepared the report." Compare "I have been reading your proposal" (still reading, in progress) with "I have read your proposal" (finished, ready to respond).

When do I use "for" and "since" with the present perfect continuous?

Use "for" with a length of time and "since" with a starting point. For example: "We have been negotiating for two hours" (a duration) and "We have been negotiating since lunch" (a fixed start). Both answer "how long?" and work naturally with this tense: "She has been managing the team for six months"; "I have been waiting since 9 a.m."

Can I use the present perfect continuous with verbs like know, want or believe?

No. Stative verbs describing states rather than actions, know, want, believe, own, understand, need, are not normally used in continuous forms. Say "I have known him for ten years," not "I have been knowing him." Use the present perfect simple instead. Action verbs such as work, wait, study and learn take the continuous freely: "I have been studying English for years."