Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Continuous (positive, negative, questions)

+	I/We/They have been living here for 5 years. I/We/They + 've been working for this company since 2020.	She/He/it has been living here for 5 years. She/He/It + ’s been working for this company since 2020.
-	I/We/They have not been living here for 5 years. I/We/They haven’t been working for this company since 2020.	She/He/it has not been living here for 5 years. She/He/It  hasn’t been working for this company since 2020.
yes/no?	Have you been living here for 5 years?	Has she been living here for 5 years?
wh?	How long have you been living here?	How long has she been living here?

1.1 Use Present Perfect Continuous with ACTION words with «for» or «since» for actions or activities that started in the past and are still happening now. Use «for» + a period of time and «since» + specific start time.

Examples

He has been learning Spanish for two years.

We have been working here since 2019.

She has been practising the piano for three hours. 

1.2 Use Present Perfect Continuous with «recently» or «lately» to talk about actions or activities that have been happening around now and may still be continuing.

Examples

She has been working out recently.

They have been playing football lately.

I have been thinking about changing my job a lot recently.

1.3 Use Present Perfect Continuous to describe actions or states that started in the past and are ongoing, often implying that they will continue.

Examples

They have been waiting outside.

I have been feeling tired this week.

1.4 Use Present Perfect to describe the result or completion of an action, while the Present Perfect Continuous emphasises the duration of an action.

Examples

She has read 3 chapters of the book. (finished, result)

She has been reading this book for a month. (we don’t know if she has finished or not, because we focus on duration)

I have painted the room. (the room is painted; focus on the result)

I have been painting the room. (still painting; focus on the process)

1.5 With NON-ACTION verbs we use Present Perfect. But «work» and «live» are often used in either the Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous with the same meaning.

Examples

NOT They’ve been knowing each other for 10 years. (know - non-action verb) BUT They’ve known each other for 10 years.

I’ve lived here since 2018. 

I’ve been living here since 2018.