What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to use have been + -ing to talk about actions that started in the past and continue now.
When do I use it?
Use the present perfect continuous for an action that started in the past and is still happening now:
- "I have been working here since 2021." (and I still work here)
- "She has been studying for three hours." (and she is still studying)
You also use it for an action that has just stopped but has a visible result now:
- "It has been raining. The ground is wet."
- "My eyes are red because I have been reading all day."
It is the natural choice with for (duration) and since (starting point).
How do I form it?
have / has + been + verb-ing
- We have been living here for five years.
- He has been playing football since he was a child.
- Have you been waiting long?
- They haven't been sleeping well lately.
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish has no continuous perfect, so speakers tend to use the present perfect simple or the present continuous for both: "estoy trabajando aquí desde 2021" is "I have been working here since 2021", not "I am working here since 2021" or "I have worked here since 2021" (the simple form stresses result, not ongoing activity). Also, remember that in English the present continuous cannot carry a duration: say "I've been working" not "I'm working since...".
See how long an action has been going on → have/has been + -ing. Look for for / since / all day.
Practice
Multiple Choice
B1Which sentence is correct?
Fill in the Blank
B1She has been in Madrid for a year.
Hint: have been + verb-ing
Find the Error
B1Sentence Transformation
B1Task: Rewrite with the present perfect continuous
Hint: Use have been + -ing with 'since 2019'.
Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: B1