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Intermediate 📝 Grammar

Present Perfect Continuous

Use have been + -ing for actions that started in the past and are still going, or have just stopped with visible results.

1Learn

Goal: Use have been + -ing for actions that started in the past and are still going, or have just stopped with visible results.

Present Perfect Continuous = have / has been + verb-ing. Use it to stress how long something has been happening (“I’ve been learning English for two years”) or to explain a present result (“I’m tired because I’ve been working all day”). Compare: Present Perfect (“I’ve written three emails” — the result, finished) vs Present Perfect Continuous (“I’ve been writing emails all morning” — the activity, duration).

2Examples

I’ve been waiting for the bus for forty minutes.Still waiting
She’s been working at Technopark since 2022.
It’s been raining since morning.
Why are you out of breath? — I’ve been running.Visible result
They’ve been building that flyover for three years.
I’ve read the book. / I’ve been reading the book.Finished / still reading

3Common mistakes

I am learning English since 2023.
I’ve been learning English since 2023.
I’ve been knowing him for years.
I’ve known him for years. — know is a state verb
She has been finish the work.
She has finished the work.

4Practice quiz

Question 1 of 5Multiple choice
I ___ for you since 5 o’clock!

5Speaking challenge

Speaking challenge

Say 5 things you’ve been doing recently (for / since), then one thing you’ve finished.

0:30

Say it out loud. Nobody is listening — that’s the point. Mistakes are allowed.

Finish this lesson

Do the practice quiz above, then mark it complete.

Next: Used to / would / be used to →