Present perfect continuous
Present perfect continuous means “Present perfect continuous: an action that started in the past and is still going on (or just stopped).”. Have/has been + V-ing stresses how long an action has been happening: I have been waiting for an hour. Formation: have/has been + V-ing
Present perfect continuous: an action that started in the past and is still going on (or just stopped).
B2Formation
have/has been + V-ing
Explanation
Have/has been + V-ing stresses how long an action has been happening: I have been waiting for an hour. It often answers 'How long...?' and appears with for and since: She has been studying French since 2020. Compare it with the present perfect (have done), which stresses the result rather than the duration.
Examples
Note
State verbs (know, like, be) normally avoid the continuous: I have known him for years (not have been knowing).
FAQ
Present perfect continuous — what does it mean and how is it used?
Present perfect continuous: an action that started in the past and is still going on (or just stopped).. Have/has been + V-ing stresses how long an action has been happening: I have been waiting for an hour. It often answers 'How long...?' and appears with for and since: She has been studying French since 2020. Compare it with the present perfect (have done), which stresses the result rather than the duration.
Present perfect continuous — how do you form it?
have/has been + V-ing
Present perfect continuous — any usage notes?
State verbs (know, like, be) normally avoid the continuous: I have known him for years (not have been knowing).