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Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Continuous

Reference

Rule Example
Formhave/has been + -ingI have been studying all day.
Use 1ongoing action from past to nowfor 3 hours / since Monday
Use 2recent activity with present resultShe's tired — she's been working.
vs PP simplecontinuous = activity · simple = result/countwriting all morning / written 3 emails

Common mistakes

  1. I am working here since 2020. → I have been working here since 2020.
    "since" needs present perfect continuous
  2. She has been knowing him for years. → She has known him for years.
    stative verb → PP simple
  3. I have been writing three emails. → I have written three emails.
    countable completed → PP simple

Present Perfect Continuous — Exercises

Simple or continuous?

Circle the correct answer.

  1. How long _____ for the bus? (have you been waiting / are you waiting)
  2. She's tired because she _____ all morning. (has been running / runs)
  3. I _____ three episodes today. (have watched / have been watching)
  4. They _____ each other since primary school. (have known / have been knowing)
  5. Your eyes are red. _____ you been crying? (Have / Are)
  6. I _____ English for four years. (have been learning / am learning)
  7. We _____ the whole house — it's finished! (have painted / have been painting)
  8. It _____ since this morning. The streets are flooded. (has been raining / rains)

Complete with the present perfect continuous

Write have/has been + -ing.

  1. I   (play) the piano since I was six.
  2. He   (wait) for an hour.
  3. How long have you   (live) here?
  4. Why are you so dirty? What   you (do)?
  5. She   (not / sleep) well lately.
  6. We   (train) for this match for weeks.

Present Perfect Continuous — Answer Key

Simple or continuous?

  1. have you been waiting — How long + an action still going on → have you been waiting.
  2. has been running — A recent activity that explains how she is now → has been running.
  3. have watched — A finished number (three) → present perfect simple: have watched.
  4. have known — know is a state verb — no continuous: have known.
  5. Have — Present perfect continuous question: Have you been crying?
  6. have been learning — for + a period up to now → have been learning, not the present continuous.
  7. have painted — The result is complete → have painted.
  8. has been raining — Started in the past, still going on → has been raining.

Complete with the present perfect continuous

  1. have been playing
  2. has been waiting
  3. been living
  4. have you been doing
  5. hasn't been sleeping
  6. have been training