Present Perfect Continuous tense

Basic form

Subject + HAS/HAVE + BEEN + Verb (continuous form)

Quick examples

• I have been working as a teacher for 30 years.
• What have you been doing?

The Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) has a long and scary name. But don't worry! Read on to learn how to use it.

Use

1. Actions that started in the past and continue in the present
2. Actions that have recently stopped
3. Temporary actions and situations

Use 1: Continuation in the Present

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continues in the present.

• He has been painting the house for 5 hours. He's still painting it
• I have been working as a fireman since 1973. I still work as a fireman

Use 2: Past actions recently stopped

Use this tense also to talk about actions that began in the past and have recently stopped.

• I have been waiting for you for half an hour! I'm not waiting anymore because you have come
• Look at her eyes! I'm sure she has been crying. She stopped crying when she saw them

For and Since

Since and for are very common time expressions used with the Present Perfect Continuous.
We use for with a period of time, for example:

• I have been living here for 20 years.

When talking about a starting point, we use since, for example:

• I have been living here since 1960.

Learn more