Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

The structure of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense is:

 

Subject + auxiliary verb + auxiliary verb + main verb

       has/have                been                  base + ing

 

There are basically two uses for the Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

1. An action that has just stopped or recently stopped

We use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense to talk about an action that started in the past and stopped recently. There is usually a result now.

Examples:

1. I'm tired ^(now) because l've been running.
2. Why is the grass is wet ^(now)? Has it been raining?
3. You don't understand ^now because you haven't been listening.

2.   An action continuing up to now

We use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense to talk about an action that started in the past and is continuing now. This is often used with for or since.

We often use for and since with the Present Perfect Tense.

resent perfect tense.

• We use 'for' to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years.
• We use 'since' to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday

Examples:

1. I have been reading for 2 hours. [I am still reading now.]
2. We've been studying since 9 o'clock. [We're still studying now.)
3. How long have you been learning English? (You are still learning now)