Last updated on July 8th, 2021 at 07:56 am
The present perfect continuous tense is used to talk about an action that started in the past and is continuing at the present time. This is often used with for or since.
Formation
The present perfect continuous tense is formed by conjugating the auxiliary “to have” in simple present plus been plus the present participle of a verb (verb-ing).
HAS/HAVE + BEEN + VERB (-ING)
Examples:
They have been correcting English exams for 2 hours.
Rebecca has been teaching Mathematics since 1997.
Have we been building this hospital since last year?
It hasn’t been raining since morning.
The use
* We use for to talk about a period of time: two hours, five months, one year, three centuries…
Examples:
I have been reading this book for 2 hours. (I am still reading now.)
How long have you been learning English? (You are still learning now.)
She has been listening to news for 30 minutes.
* We use since to indicate a point in past time: 4 o’clock, 21st May 2019, last month,…
Examples:
We‘ve been studying since 4 o’clock. (We’re still studying now.)
She has not been calling me since 21st May 2019. (She is not calling now.)
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