1. PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
USES AND DIFFERENCES WITH PRESENT
PERFECT SIMPLE
2. FORMATION
HAVE BEEN/HAS BEEN+VERB+-ING (GERUND):
Ex.: I’ve been studying for my English exam.
QUESTIONS: Inversion
Ex.: Have you been studying for your English
exam?
NEGATIVE: haven’t/hasn’t
Ex.: I haven’t been studying for my English
exam.
3. USES (1)
For unfinished ACTIONS (an action that started in the past but is
still going on now):
Ex.: I’ve been learning English for three years/since I was a
child.
COMPARE with Present perfect simple that we use mainly with non
action verbs: to be, know, etc.
Ex.: I’ve known my boyfriend for two years/since i was at
University.
With work and live you can use both (the continuous form
emphasizes the idea of duration):
Ex.: I’ve been living in Madrid for 10 years.
I’ve lived in Madrid for 10 years.
4. USES (2)
For recent continuous actions: actions that have been
going on but have just finished, usually with
consequences in the present:
Ex.: Your eyes are read and you can’t speak properly.
Have you been drinking?
COMPARE with the present perfect simple (with non
action verbs or actions that haven’t been going on for
some time:
Ex.: I’ve just seen him
I’ve been to London three times.