I have been cooking for three hours.

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Present Perfect Continuous

Intermediate

With the Present Perfect Continuous tense, you will be able to say that you have done something and are still doing it now.

Exercise 1

Sentence Practice

I have been waiting here for five hours.
He has been feeling tired in the last few days.
They have been working for eleven hours.
You have been doing the same thing for five years.
She has been studying English for eight years.
I have been cooking a lot lately.

Grammar Focus

How to form the Present Perfect Continuous

Remember that the 'continuous' form of a verb is its -ing form with the verb 'be': I run → I am running.

The Present Perfect Continuous is the continuous form of the Present Perfect Simple. We use this tense to show that an action started in the past and is still continuing now (this is called continuity).

We form the 'present perfect continuous' tense with:

the present perfect of the verb 'be': have/has been + the continuous form of the main verb: present participle

In other words: 'have/has been' + verb -ing

I have been studying English for 5 years.

To negate this tense, add 'not' between 'have/has' and 'been'.

I have not been studying English for 5 years.

To ask a question in this tense, invert the subject and 'have/has':

How long have you been studying English?

Why use the Present Perfect Continuous

Both the Present Perfect Continuous and the Present Perfect Simple express continuity. However, continuity is only one of three possible meanings of a Present Perfect Simple verb, while it is the only meaning of a Present Perfect Continuous verb.

Present Perfect Simple

I have worked as a pilot for 10 years.

Immediate Past: I have worked as a pilot for 10 years until now.
Experience: I have experienced working as a pilot for 10 years sometime before.
Continuity: I have continued working as a pilot for 10 years until now.

→ Since there are at least 3 different ways to interpret this expression, it is not clear whether the action is continuing now, unless the context tells you.

Present Perfect Continuous:

I have been working as a pilot for 10 years.

→ Since there is only 1 meaning (I have continued working as a pilot for 10 years until now), it is clear that the action is continuing now.

Exercise 2

Dialogue Practice

Read the dialogues aloud with your tutor.

Catching Up with Friends

	Haruto What have you all been doing recently?
	Liam I've been playing football a lot.
	Sarah I've been watching a new TV series.
	Mio I've been learning to drive.
	Haruto I've actually been learning to drive for a year now, but am too scared to take the test.

At Work

	Ellen Jackson How long have you been working at this company?
	Mark Smith Hmm. I've been working here for five years now.
	Ellen Jackson How has the company changed in that time?
	Mark Smith The company has drastically improved its reputation and our revenue has gone up as a result.

At School

	Teacher What is everyone's hobbies? And how long have you been doing them?
	Emily I like to play piano. I've been playing piano for two years now.
	Chloe I like origami. I've been doing it since I was three.

Exercise 3

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the present perfect continuous form of the verb in parentheses.

Example

I (not exercise) much this past month. → "have not been exercising"

The pianist (practice) a lot recently for his upcoming concert.

We have a deadline next week, so we (work) a lot recently.

It (rain) the whole week.

The patient (sleep) for two days now.

This computer (not work) for more than two years.

I (not read) the news recently.

I (not watch) movies these days.

Exercise 4

Sentence Building

Your roommate has many bad habits. Talk about them using the present perfect continuous.

Example

leave the lights on → "You've been leaving the lights on."

eat my food
leave the TV on the whole night
leave the tap on (= forget to close the faucet)
leave socks on the floor
break our furniture
leave the door open
let bugs in our room
get on my nerves recently