INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
GRAMMAR UNIT 1. EOI REUS 2008/2009
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The present perfect continuous is the equivalent progressive form of the present perfect.
It is formed by the auxiliary have/has + the past participle of the verb to be BEEN and the
–ing form of the main verb.
e.g. My neighbour has been playing the saxophone for three hours.
I’ve been reading this novel since I woke up this morning.
The secretary has been typing letters all afternoon.
We tend to use the present perfect continuous with action verbs, and the present perfect
simple for state verbs (verbs of feeling, thinking, senses, etc.). The present perfect
continuous is more commonly used to answer ‘How long…’ questions and is directly linked
to time objects beginning with the prepositions for and since.
e.g. How long have they been playing football?
She’s been learning English for ten years.
I’ve been teaching foreign languages since I was 20 years old.
BUT
They’ve known each other for ages.
She’s fallen hopelessly in love with him.
Some verbs like live or work can be considered action or non-action verbs.
She’s lived here for two months.
She’s been living here for two months.
USES OF THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The present perfect continuous can be used for the following situations:
 We use it to talk about a recent activity when you can still see the effects or
results of such an activity.
e.g. What a mess! What have you been doing?
She’s sweating because she’s been working hard in the garden.
 It is also used to emphasize how long the action has been going for, stressing its
duration.
e.g. I’ve been painting the drawing room all morning.
She’s been sewing the children’s costumes for Halloween all week.
 When we want to suggest that an activity is temporary or progressive.
e.g. He’s been learning Russian lately, but he says he’s going to give it up
because it’s too difficult.
I’ve been treating him coldly these lasts weeks because I don’t trust him
anymore.
 It can also indicate that actions or situations are not complete.
e.g. I’ve been reading that novel, but I haven’t finished yet.
They’ve been playing for a while before coming in for a sandwich.
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