Use of present perfect continuous in English and differences with the present perfect continuous

1. USES AND DIFFERENCES WITH PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS

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.