The present perfect continuous describes an activity that has been going on up to now, or has just stopped. "I have been studying since nine" means the studying fills the time from nine until this moment. "I am tired because I have been studying" means the activity has just stopped and left its result.
The form is have been or has been plus the -ing verb. It is the present perfect version of the continuous aspect, so it keeps the action open and in progress.
The tense is especially useful with for and since, and with the question "How long...?". This page shows its four jobs, the difference from the present perfect simple, and ends with a 20-question drill where every answer explains the rule.
The rule
The form: have been plus -ing
- Positive: have or has plus been plus the -ing form. "I have been working." "She has been reading."
- Negative: have or has plus not plus been plus the -ing form. "They have not been sleeping well."
- Question: Have or has plus subject plus been plus the -ing form. "Have you been waiting long?"
- Short forms: I've been working, she's been reading, we haven't been listening.
An activity continuing up to now
- Use it with for plus a period or since plus a start point: "I have been learning French for two years."
- "She has been working here since March." The work started in March and continues.
- The focus is on the activity and its duration, not on a result or a number of completed actions.
- The question How long...? often chooses this tense: "How long have you been driving?"
A recent activity with a present result
- The activity has just stopped, and we can see the effect now: "My eyes are red because I have been staring at the screen."
- The result usually explains the present situation: wet clothes, a messy kitchen, tired legs, a red face.
- The activity does not have to be long. "Why are you out of breath?" "I have been running."
- The exact finish time is not named. If you name it, use the past simple: "I ran for an hour this morning."
Repeated actions and temporary situations
- Repeated actions up to now: "I have been calling you all day." The calls repeated and may continue.
- Temporary situations: "She has been staying with her sister while her flat is repaired."
- The repeated activity is seen as a continuing process, not as a total count of completed events.
- Compare: "I have called you five times" counts the calls; "I have been calling you all day" describes the effort.
Simple or continuous, and stative verbs
- Present perfect simple focuses on a completed action or a result: "I have painted the door."
- Present perfect continuous focuses on the activity itself: "I have been painting the door."
- Stative verbs do not take the continuous: say "I have known her for years", not "have been knowing".
- Some verbs work with both, and the meaning shifts slightly: "I have lived here for five years" and "I have been living here for five years" are both fine, with the second stressing the temporary period.
Examples
- I have been studying for three hours.For plus a period, and the studying continues to now.
- She has been working at the hospital since March.Since marks the starting point of the continuing activity.
- Why are you wet? — I have been walking in the rain.The activity just stopped and left a visible result.
- They have been cleaning the house all morning.An activity that fills a period up to now.
- My eyes are red because I have been staring at the screen.The present condition is the result of the recent activity.
- He has been watching TV since lunch.Since lunch marks a continuing activity.
- I have been calling you all day.A repeated action seen as one continuous effort.
- It has been raining since Monday.The weather activity continues over several days.
- She has been staying with her sister this month.A temporary situation, not a permanent home.
- How long have you been learning Spanish?The standard question about a continuing activity.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: I have been knowing her for years. Right: I have known her for years.
- Know is a stative verb, so it stays in the present perfect simple.
- Wrong: I have been finishing my homework. Right: I have finished my homework.
- Finish is a completed action with a result, so the simple form is correct. The continuous would describe the activity, not the completion.
- Wrong: I have been seen that film twice. Right: I have seen that film twice.
- The continuous uses been plus the -ing form, and a completed count needs the simple form.
- Wrong: She has been work here since 2022. Right: She has been working here since 2022.
- The present perfect continuous needs been plus the -ing form.
- Wrong: I have been learning English since two years. Right: I have been learning English for two years.
- A period takes for. Since would need a starting point such as 2024.
Practice drill
Answer all 20 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
I ___ for three hours.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. have been studying The studying fills the time up to now, so the present perfect continuous fits: have been studying.
She ___ since eight o'clock.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. has been working Since marks the starting point of an activity continuing to now: has been working.
Why are you wet? — I ___ in the rain.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. have been walking The recent activity left the visible result of being wet, so use have been walking.
They ___ the house all morning.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. have been cleaning The activity fills the morning and continues to now: have been cleaning.
How long ___ you been learning Spanish?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. have The present perfect continuous question uses have: How long have you been learning?
He ___ TV since lunch.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. has been watching Since lunch marks an activity continuing up to now: has been watching.
My eyes are red because I ___ at the screen all day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. have been staring The activity explains the present condition, so the continuous describes it: have been staring.
We ___ this song all day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. have been playing The repeated playing is seen as a continuing activity: have been playing.
She ___ as a waitress this summer.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. has been working A temporary job over a recent period takes the present perfect continuous: has been working.
I ___ to call you all day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. have been trying The repeated attempts form a continuing effort, so use have been trying.
It ___ since Monday.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. has been raining The rain continues over a period from Monday to now: has been raining.
How long ___ she been waiting?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. has The present perfect continuous question uses has before she: How long has she been waiting?
They ___ for the bus for twenty minutes.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. have been waiting For twenty minutes measures the activity continuing to now: have been waiting.
He ___ football since he was five.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. has been playing An activity continuing from a starting point in the past takes the continuous: has been playing.
What ___ you been doing?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. have The question about a recent continuing activity uses have: What have you been doing?
I ___ my room all morning.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. have been tidying The activity fills the morning, so the continuous describes it: have been tidying.
The baby ___ all night.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. has been sleeping The activity continued through the night up to now: has been sleeping.
You look tired. ___ you been working late?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Have The question about a recent activity uses have: Have you been working late?
She ___ for a new job recently.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. has been looking A recent ongoing activity takes the present perfect continuous: has been looking.
He ___ not been feeling well lately.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. has The negative present perfect continuous is has not been plus -ing: has not been feeling.
Drill complete
You answered every question.
Next topic: Present perfect simple vs continuousTake the level test
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between "I have been reading" and "I have read"?
The continuous stresses the activity and its length: "I have been reading all afternoon." The simple stresses completion, a result or a number: "I have read three chapters." Both can describe a book, but the questions they answer differ: how did you spend the time, or what is finished?
Can the present perfect continuous describe a finished activity?
Yes, when the activity has just stopped and the result is still visible: "I have been running." The run is over, but you are still out of breath. If the activity finished at a named past time, the past continuous or past simple takes over: "I was running at seven."
Why do stative verbs avoid the continuous form?
Stative verbs describe states, not actions: know, own, believe, belong, want, like. A state does not have a middle that can be in progress, so the continuous sounds strange. "I have been wanting a dog" is not standard; say "I have wanted a dog for years."
More grammar topics
Present perfect simple vs continuous
A result or a count takes the simple form; a continuing activity takes the continuous.
Some vs any
Some for positive sentences, any for negatives and questions, and the polite exceptions that use some.
Much vs many
Many counts things you can number. Much measures what you cannot, and positive sentences prefer a lot of.
Take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.