Grammar: Advanced Verb Tenses
B2 Lesson 1: Present Perfect Continuous
Why It Matters: Result vs. Duration
The Present Perfect Continuous focuses on the duration or process of an action, while the Present Perfect Simple focuses on the result.
"I have painted the room."
(Meaning: The job is finished. Look at the result.)
"I have been painting the room."
(Meaning: That's why I'm tired and covered in paint. The focus is on the recent, continuous activity.)
The Grammar Rules 📖
Structure: have/has + been + Verb-ing
- Positive: I have been waiting for 30 minutes.
- Negative: She hasn't been feeling well recently.
- Question: Have you been working here long?
Two Main Uses
1. To Emphasize Duration of Unfinished Actions (How long?)
She has been learning to play the chapei for six months.
2. Recent Continuous Actions with a Present Result
"Why are you so tired?" → "Because I've been studying for my exam all night."
💡 Pro Tip: Stative Verbs
We do not normally use continuous tenses with stative verbs (verbs for states, not actions, like 'know', 'believe', 'understand', 'own'). For these, you must use the Present Perfect Simple.
Correct: "I have known her since we were children."
Incorrect: "I have been knowing her since..."
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise: Choose the Correct Tense
Complete the sentences with the correct verb form from the brackets.
- How long _______ you _______ for the bus? (wait)
→ have you been waiting - Your eyes are red. _______ you _______? (cry)
→ Have you been crying - I _______ my best friend for more than ten years. (know)
→ have known ('know' is a stative verb) - She's exhausted because she _______ hard all day long. (work)
→ has been working
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Write About Yourself
Complete these sentences with your own ideas using the Present Perfect Continuous.
- You started learning English 3 years ago and you are still learning.
Example: I have been learning English for three years. - You see your friend and their hands are covered in paint. Ask them a question.
Example: Have you been painting? - Complete this sentence with a real, ongoing activity in your life: "Recently, I have been..."
Example: Recently, I have been reading a lot of books.
Key Vocabulary
- Present Perfect Continuous A tense used to show that an action started in the past and has continued up to the present moment.
- Duration The length of time that something continues.
- Emphasis Special importance or attention given to something.
- Stative Verb A verb describing a state of being rather than an action (e.g., know, love, believe, own).