The Present Perfect Continuous
Talk about how long an action has been happening with have/has been + -ing, using for, since and How long. B1 grammar with 20 questions.
The present perfect continuous describes an action that started in the past and is still continuing now (or has just stopped), with a focus on the duration — how long. “Aisha has been studying for three hours.”
How to make it: have/has been + verb-ing
| Subject | have/has been + -ing |
|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | I have been (’ve been) working. |
| he / she / it | She has been (’s been) working. |
Three partshave/has + been + verb-ing. The word “been” never changes. “They have been waiting.”
When we use it
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| An action continuing up to now (how long) | I have been learning English for two years. |
| A recent action with a present result | I’m tired because I have been working all day. |
We often use it with for (a length of time) and since (a starting point), and with How long…?
- How long have you been waiting? — I’ve been waiting for twenty minutes.
- Omar has been working here since 2020.
Continuous vs simple present perfect
| Present perfect continuous (how long / activity) | Present perfect simple (result / how many) |
|---|---|
| I’ve been reading this book. (the activity, maybe not finished) | I’ve read this book. (finished — the result) |
| She’s been writing emails all morning. | She’s written ten emails. |
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersUse this tense to answer How long? Build it carefully: have/has + been + verb-ing — learners often forget “been.” Note: verbs like know, like, want, be are not normally used in continuous forms; say “I have known him for years,” not “have been knowing.”
Common mistakes
- I have working all day. → I have been working all day.
- She has been work here since 2020. → She has been working here since 2020.
- I have been knowing him for years. → I have known him for years.
Practise the present perfect continuous with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."Aisha ___ studying for three hours."
she + has been + -ing.
2."I ___ working all day."
I + have been.
3.The structure is have/has + ___ + verb-ing.
have/has been + -ing.
4."They have ___ waiting for an hour."
have been waiting.
5."I have been learning English ___ two years."
for + length of time.
6."Omar has been working here ___ 2020."
since + starting point.
7."How long ___ you been waiting?"
have you been...?
8.Which is correct?
have been working.
9.Which is correct?
has been working.
10."I'm tired because I ___ all day."
recent activity + present result.
11.Activity (not finished): "I've ___ this book."
been reading = the activity.
12.Result (finished): "I've ___ this book."
read = finished result.
13.Which verb is NOT used in continuous?
"know" is a state verb → not continuous.
14.Which is correct?
know → have known (not continuous).
15."She ___ writing emails all morning."
she + has been.
16."We ___ been living here for five years."
we + have been.
17."How long ___ Omar been studying Arabic?"
has Omar been...?
18."It ___ raining since this morning."
it + has been.
19.Choose the full correct sentence:
have been playing.
20."You look hot! ___ you been running?"
Have you been running?
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