The document discusses the present perfect continuous tense in English. It describes how the tense is formed using have/has been + verb-ing and provides examples. It explains that the present perfect continuous tense describes an action that began in the past and continues in the present, and emphasizes the duration of the ongoing action. It contrasts the present perfect continuous with the present perfect simple and present continuous tenses, noting differences in meaning and typical usage.

1. Present Perfect
Continuous

2. FORM
Have / has been + VERB-ing
I/we/they/you have (= I’ve, etc.)
been
doing, waiting,
writing, etc.
he/she/it has (= he’s, etc.)

3. Present perfect continuous
 It talks about an action that started in the past and
continues in the present.
 The action is not yet complete.
 It tells how long the action has been in progress.
He has been washing writing since 8:00.
They have been waiting for their boss for twenty minutes.

4. Present perfect continuous
I
You
We
They
have
been working
since 8:00.
for two hours.
He
She
It
has

5. Since & For
You can use the present perfect continuous for
actions that are repeated over a period of time:
 Debbie is a very good tennis player. She’s
been playing since she was eight.
 Every morning they meet in the same café.
They’ve been going there for years.

6. For and since
For Since
For shows an amount of time: Since tells when an action started:
for a few minutes
since 2 pm
for three weeks
since 1998
for two years
for a decde
since Sunday
since she began her new job

7. Present continuous
vs.
Present perfect continuous
 The present continuous describes what a person
is doing.
 The present perfect continuous tells how long a
person has been doing that action.
Example: Katie is writing an email.
She has been writing an email for two hours.

8. Present perfect
vs.
Present perfect continuous
 Both used to express that an action began in the past
and is still going on or has just finished.
 In many cases, both forms are correct, but there is
often a difference in meaning.
 We use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to express
that an action is completed or to emphasize the result.
 We use the Present Perfect Progressive to emphasise
the duration or continuous course of an action.
 Result: I have written 5 letters.
 Duration (how long): I have been writing for an hour.

9. REMEMBER:
In most situations with how long, since, and for, the
continuous is more usual:
Examples:
 I’ve been studying English for six months. (more
usual than I’ve studied)
 It’s been raining since lunchtime.
 Richard has been doing the same job for 20 years.

10.  some verbs (for example, know / like / believe) are not normally
used in the continuous:
Example: How long have you known Jane?
(not have you been knowing)
 either the present perfect continuous or present perfect simple with live
and work:
Example:
John has been living / has lived in London for a long time.
How long have you been working / have you worked here?
 with always the simple is used (I’ve done / I’ve lived, etc.):
Example:
John has always lived in London. (not has always been living)
 we use the present perfect simple in negative sentences like these:
Example: I haven’t seen Tom since Monday.
Jane hasn’t called me for two weeks.